After years of wrangling, a majority of European countries agreed to sign the agreement with the South American trading bloc known as Mercosur, marking a significant moment for multilateralism and patience. The deal has faced stiff opposition from European farmers, and France and several other states voted against it. Backers of the deal, including Germany, argue that it will bring major benefits to EU exporters. However, the agreement goes beyond trade. Chapters: 0:00 EU backs Mercosur deal