The EU is aiming to delay the signing of its trade deal with South American countries until early January after Italy and France said they needed more time to convince farmers to accept the pact.
The decision, which ends plans to complete the long delayed Mercosur free trade accord by this weekend, came after Italian premier Giorgia Meloni pleaded for more time during a phone call on Thursday with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The Brazilian leader had warned on Wednesday that if the landmark deal was not signed this weekend it would never be signed during his presidency. But he softened his tone after the call with Meloni.