EU delays massive free-trade deal with South American bloc

Top EU officials had hoped to sign the EU-Mercosur in Brazil this weekend, after more than 25 years of negotiations. Instead Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho confirmed that the signature had been put off until January. Experts say the delay will dent the EU’s negotiating credibility globally as it seeks to forge new trade ties amid commercial tensions with the US and China. The deal would progressively remove duties on almost all goods traded between the two blocs over the next 15 years. France had led opposition to the deal between the EU and the five active Mercosur countries —…