Italy has provided crucial support to plans by the European Union to seal a huge free trade deal with five South American nations. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was long seen as the key vote in the campaign by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to rally support for the trade deal with the Mercosur nations of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. Von der Leyen could now potentially sign the deal next week during a meeting in Paraguay. The European Parliament will vote on it before it enters into force. Italy confirmed its support for the deal on Friday, after securing guarantees for its farmers.
