The European Commission stated this Monday (15) that it expects to sign the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur by the end of this year and classified the conclusion of the treaty as of "maximum importance" for the bloc. The statements were made by a trade spokesperson for the European Commission, during a press conference in Brussels. According to the spokesperson, the EU is "very committed to bringing this agreement to the finish line", within a broader strategy of defending international trade. "We believe in global trade, we have seen how it has delivered results for our citizens and partners around the world, and we believe it will continue to do so", he stated. According to the representative, the bloc is "doubling down on free trade as a source of economic growth, competitiveness, job creation, and stability in a turbulent time". When specifically addressing Mercosur, the representative highlighted that the agreement goes beyond immediate economic gain. ...