EU to Delay Mercosur Trade Deal Signing to January (3)

European Union leaders missed a self-imposed deadline to complete a free-trade agreement with a South American bloc of countries this week.

They’ll instead aim to complete the accord with the Mercosur countries — Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay — in January, according to Paula Pinho, spokeswoman for the European Commission, which handles trade matters for the EU. Officials are targeting Jan. 12 for a new signing date, according to people familiar with the matter.

Some EU leaders had warned that failure to finalize things this week would imperil the agreement all together. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said earlier on Thursday ...