Von der Leyen arrives in Uruguay for Mercosur summit as France opposes trade deal

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, arrived in Uruguay to advance the Mercosur trade agreement. This comes as France faces a political crisis and continues to oppose the deal, citing concerns over agricultural sovereignty. France's government has declared the current agreement "unacceptable," with a significant majority in the National Assembly opposing it. The deal aims to create a free trade area between the EU and Mercosur countries, but environmental and agricultural issues have stalled progress. Despite France's resistance, the European Commission aims to finalize the agreement by year-end. Some EU member states are pushing for a quicker resolution, while France seeks support to block the deal, potentially forming a coalition with other nations.