Hundreds of farmers in tractors protested in Brussels against the EU-Mercosur trade deal, disrupting the EU summit. Some countries pushed for stronger agricultural safeguards, while others backed the deal to boost exports. Brazil’s President Lula warned the EU that the deal must be signed now or risk losing Brazil’s participation, as FRANCE 24's Armen Georgian explains from Brussels.

Hundreds of tractors converged on Brussels on Thursday in a show of farmers' anger at the EU's planned trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur -- whose fate hung in the balance as summit talks opened in the Belgian capital. More than 150 tractors clogged the streets of central Brussels Thursday morning with many more expected.

On the sidelines of the European summit, hundreds of farmers are gathering in Brussels, blocking parts of the Belgian capital to protest against EU regulations and the signing of a Mercosur trade deal, which they call unfair competition for European farmers. Our journalist Armen Georgian is on the scene and describes a chaotic situation.

Farmers in tractors blocked roads and scuffled with riot police outside a European Union leaders’ summit in Brussels on Wednesday to protest against a major free-trade deal with South American trading…

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen told EU leaders at a summit in Brussels that the signing of a free trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur would be postponed to January, diplomatic…

The pact with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay has been 25 years in the making. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

As Europe hesitates over the Mercosur agreement, Brazilian President Lula has shown signs of frustration with a deal '37 years in the making'. He warned it was 'now or never' to sign, saying there would be no further opportunities during his term in office. FRANCE 24's Tom Vickery has the details from Rio.