Odds that the trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur will be signed in January appeared to improve slightly after a call between Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

What way the Government votes on the controversial Mercosur trade deal has to be seen “in the round” and take account of separate leeway the State was recently given on EU nitrates rules, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

The European Commission announced it will delay the signing of the Mercosur trade agreement until the new year after Meloni asked for more time. No date has been set. Backers hope deal won't be further derailed.

Belgium, where most of those assets are held, have been the most vocal holdout since the last EU summit in October, but officials say the country has engaged constructively in Thursday’s negotiations.

UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA has said that the Mercosur deal could severely disadvantage Northern Ireland’s farmers.

Farmers in Brussels clashed with Belgian police on Dec. 18 in tense demonstrations, after protestors came out against a European-South American free trade agreement. European farmers have

Quick compromise on farm protections puts the Latin America deal in EU leaders’ court as they convene for summit.