EU moves to provisionally implement major trade deal with South America's Mercosur bloc

The European Union is moving ahead with a provisional application of its long-negotiated trade agreement with the South American bloc Mercosur. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, announced the decision, which allows parts of the deal to take effect before a full legal review by the European Parliament is complete.

France called the move a 'bad surprise,' and some EU lawmakers and farmers' groups are angry, calling it an insult. Meanwhile, Uruguay and Argentina have become the first Mercosur members to formally ratify the pact in their national parliaments.