ROME

Italy’s premier said Wednesday that Rome won't sign off on the trade deal between the EU and South American bloc Mercosur until there are guarantees to protect European farmers from its potentially damaging effects.

Speaking to Italian lawmakers ahead of an EU summit, Giorgia Meloni explained that Italy will not sign the deal in its current form. This move aligns Italy with France in opposing an immediate conclusion of the 25-year-long negotiations.

"We believe that signing the agreement in the coming days is still premature," she told Parliament.

"It is necessary to wait for the package of additional measures to protect the agricultural sector to be finalized and, at the same time, to illustrate and discuss it with our farmers,” she added.

Meloni stressed that the agreement requires additional "reciprocity guarantees" to protect European farmers from potentially damaging effects. She expressed confidence that these conditions could be met in early 2026.

Italy is torn between the interests of its industrial exporters, who favor the deal for access to Latin American markets, and its agricultural sector, which fears competition from South American beef and soy imports.

Rome’s hesitation is seen as a major blow to the European Commission’s efforts to finalize the deal before the end of 2025. The planned signing ceremony in Brazil this Saturday is now in doubt as Italy was considered the "swing vote" necessary to bypass a potential blocking minority.