EU Commission chief talks with Brazil's president about stalled trade deal
European Comission President Ursula von der Leyen has met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a bid to get a free trade deal moving again BRASILIA, Brazil -- European Comission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Monday in a bid to get a free trade deal moving again. The 27-member EU completed negotiations in 2019 on a wide-ranging trade deal with Mercosur — comprised of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay — but it has yet to be ratified by any of the individual countries. Ratification stalled during the presidency of Lula’s predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, due to the EU's concern over his environmental policies as well as a European desire to protect its local farmers from cheaper imports from Mercosur. Proposed modifications of the original agreement have yet to get the process back on track. In March, the EU sent a letter to Mercosur seeking to establish stricter environmental requirements for South American...