European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the European Union and the Mercosur trade bloc have agreed to terms for a long-anticipated free trade deal.

The European Union and South America's Mercosur trade bloc said Friday they had finalised a free trade agreement that has been decades in the making. But the deal faces a tortuous battle for approval in Europe given opposition from France and other member states.

The European Union and the Mercosur group of Latin American countries have agreed to terms for a long-anticipated free trade deal, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Friday in Uruguay's capital of Montevideo.

The European Union and South America's Mercosur bloc have finalised a free trade agreement, the European Commission said on Friday but it faces a tortuous battle for approval in Europe given French and Italian opposition.

The European Union and South America's Mercosur bloc are expected on Friday to finalise a free trade agreement but it faces a tortuous battle for approval in Europe given firm French opposition. After negotiations spanning more than 20 years and five years on from an initially inked deal,

The European Commission announced a new free trade deal with a group of South American countries on Friday but still needs the blessing of European Union member states.

The European Union and South America's Mercosur bloc are expected to announce this week that they have finalized a free trade agreement that took over two decades to negotiate.

The preliminary deal to lower tariffs and boost investments still needs approval from European Union member countries.