x     The free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Mercosur bloc (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) could help turn South America into a major player in the global market for critical minerals and rare earths, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said in an interview with EFE from Asunción. Šefčovič, who signed the historic deal on behalf of the 27 EU member states, insisted that the pact will not harm European farmers and stressed that lower tariffs and increased