Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday he hoped a trade deal between the European Union and the South American Mercosur bloc would be signed by the end of this year, even as it faced opposition,

The Carrefour CEO's comments over an EU-Mercosur trade deal caused disruption to supplies of meat to Brazil stores.

France’s Senate has voted to reject the Mercosur free trade agreement between the European Union and South American countries, following a similar vote in the National Assembly, as farmers continue to protest against a deal they say would bring unfair competition.

France does not get to decide whether a free trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc goes ahead -- only Brussels does, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula

The French giant has come out in support of farmers to block the prospect of meat imports from the South America bloc.

The European Union and four Latin American countries are preparing for a final push to clinch a controversial free trade deal that has been under discussion for 25 years. Backed by Germany and Spain,

The deal has been 25 years in the making and it aims to create one of the largest free trade zones in the world - but farmers in Europe are heavily opposed to sealing it, saying that they cannot compete with South American livestock producers.

The EU and the South American trade bloc Mercosur are working to finalize a trade deal that has been in negotiation for over 20 years. The agreement would create a