EU says hopes to sign Mercosur trade deal 'soon'

The European Commission reported progress among EU member states in approving a trade agreement with the Latin American Mercosur countries and said it hopes to sign the deal soon.

A Commission spokeswoman  Paula Pinhoconfirmed that discussions over the past two weeks have advanced the agreement, but did not provide a specific date for its signing, noting that the EU remains on track to conclude the deal in the near future.