The European Union will propose a trade agreement with Mercosur, facing opposition led by France.

Reuters - The free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur will be presented by the European Commission for approval this Wednesday, pitting Germany and other countries seeking new markets to offset Trump's tariffs against France, the main critic of the agreement, and its allies. 

The European Union and the bloc formed by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay completed negotiations on the agreement last December, about 25 years after negotiations began.

It will now be submitted for approval by the European Union, requiring a vote in the European Parliament and a qualified majority among EU governments, i.e., 15 of the 27 members representing 65% of the EU population. There is no guarantee of approval in either case.

The Commission and proponents, such as Germany and Spain, argue that the agreement offers a way to offset the loss of trade due to tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump and to reduce dependence on China, particularly in relation to essential minerals.

Since Trump's re-election last November, the EU has been committed to forging trade alliances, accelerating negotiations with India, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates, and deepening ties with existing free trade partners such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.

The EU executive stated that the agreement with Mercosur is the largest ever signed in terms of tariff reductions and a necessary part of the EU's effort to diversify trade ties.

France, the EU's largest beef producer and the country most critical of the agreement, called it "unacceptable".

European farmers have protested several times, saying the agreement would lead to cheap imports of South American commodities, mainly beef, that do not meet EU food safety and environmental standards. The Commission has denied that this is the case.

European environmental groups also oppose the agreement. The organization Friends of the Earth called it a "climate-destroying" deal.

They expect the deal to be blocked, either in Parliament, where the Greens and the far right are critical, or by EU governments, which would not have the necessary majority if, as might happen, Poland and Italy join France in opposition.

Supporters of the agreement in the EU see Mercosur as a growing market for European cars, machinery and chemicals, and a reliable source of essential minerals for its green transition, such as metallic lithium for batteries, on which Europe currently depends from China.

They also point to the agricultural benefits, as the agreement would offer greater access and lower tariffs for EU cheese, ham and wine.