EU to cut fertiliser duties to push through Mercosur trade dealEU to cut urea, ammonia duties, allow carbon border levy suspensionsItaly, French opposition prevented signing in DecemberItaly now expected to back the dealEuropean Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič (L) shakes hands with with EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Oliver Varhelyi (R) as Minister of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine Martin Heydon (C) looks on during a meeting on the Mercosur agreement, at the European Commission on January 07, 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. Agriculture ministers from EU members states are convening in Brussels ahead of a decisive vote on the Mercosur deal expected to take place on Friday. Omar Havana/Getty ImagesPhilip Blenkinsop and Kate Abnett Reuters Today at 07:38The European Commission said on Wednesday it would cut import duties for certain fertilisers and drive forward law that could allow temporary suspensions to the EU's carbon border levy as it sought to win over opponents of its free trade agreement with South American bloc Mercosur.

Source: Irish Independent January 08, 2026 17:08 UTC