European Union member states have backed the largest free trade agreement ever with Mercosur countries—Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—after 25 years of negotiations. The deal, agreed in principle on Friday, caused protests in Poland, France, Greece, and Belgium. Farmers blocked roads in key cities like Paris, Brussels, and Warsaw. Opposition parties in France, spanning far left and far right, have sought to topple President Emmanuel Macron’s government with a no-confidence vote over the deal. Five EU countries voted against the agreement: France, Poland, Austria, Ireland, and Hungary. Belgium abstained. Italy, a key player, supported it, allowing approval through qualified majority voting. The European Parliament must still approve the deal before it becomes official. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen plans to sign the agreement in Paraguay on Monday. Supporters say the deal strengthens economic ties with Latin America and helps the EU reduce its dependence on China, especially for critical minerals like graphite, nickel, manganese, and rare earths found richly in Mercosur nations. Brazil alone holds 20% of world reserves of these minerals, including 94% of niobium used in aerospace. Argentina is the third-largest lithium producer essential for electric vehicle batteries. Agathe Demarais of the European Council on Foreign Relations said, “Failing to sign the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement risked pushing Latin American economies closer to Beijing’s orbit.” She added the deal signals Europe’s intent to diversify exports away from the US. Farmers are worried about their future. Janusz Sampolski, a Polish farmer, told AFP, “This will kill our agriculture in Poland.” He warned that dependence on supply chains from other countries could endanger food security, especially if war threatens. Environmentalists have strong concerns. The Climate Action Network warned the pact would “drive deforestation” and “worsen human rights conditions” in sensitive ecosystems by encouraging more beef, soy, and timber production in vulnerable areas. The EU-Mercosur deal marks a major shift in global trade but faces fierce pushback from those fearing economic and environmental harm.