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 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.

In addition to Paris and Warsaw, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands are also concerned about the free-trade agreement's impact on their agricultural sectors. Yet, at this stage, they have not all committed themselves.

Poland opposes the EU-Mercosur free trade deal with South American countries in its current form, the prime minister said on Tuesday, joining France in standing against an agreement European farmers say will expose them to unfair competition.

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

A trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur countries, which includes a significant section on agriculture, has triggered protests from EU farmers who argue farm imports from South America do not meet European standards.

Poland is looking to join forces with France and Italy to block a trade deal between the European Union and Latin America’s Mercosur bloc that’s been a quarter of a century in the making.

In a united appeal from across the Atlantic, 78 business associations representing various industries in the European Union (EU) and Mercosur have urged their respective governments to fast track the finalisation of the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement (FTA).