Representatives of the European Union and South American nations signed a free trade agreement on Saturday, but the deal is not final until approved by a vote of the European Parliament.

The New York Times reported on Sunday that the EU is considering deploying what has been described as an economic “bazooka” at the US after Trump threatened European countries with new tariffs because of their refusal to cede Greenland, which has been part of the Danish kingdom for hundreds of years.

The European Parliament favors the contenders from Latvia and Portugal to become the next European Central Bank vice president when Luis de Guindos’s eight-year term finishes at the end of May.

The Mercosur deal will now need to be ratified by a majority of MEPs in the European Parliament, where voting coalitions have become much more volatile and unpredictable. Irish whiskey and dairy, the Republic’s big pharmaceutical industry, and other Irish businesses would be expected to benefit from easier access to the South American market.

Group accuses EU Commission of 'bypassing' European, national parliaments, ignoring farmers' concerns - Anadolu Ajansı

The European Parliament is considering linking approval of a massive US trade deal to Donald Trump backing down from his threats to take over Greenland, putting further strain on an agreement already facing opposition.

Mercosur trade agreement cannot be implemented without the approval of MEPs, who are set to vote next week on a legal challenge against it. View on euronews

French farmers have driven 350 tractors through Paris to protest low incomes and an EU trade deal with South America.

The European Parliament will vote in plenary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday 20 January on applying an accelerated procedure to approve a €90 billion European Union loan to Ukraine for 2026–2027. Source: European Parliament's press service to European Pravda Details: On 20 January,