The Copa-Cogeca lobby group warned the agreement “erodes trust in European governance, democratic processes and parliamentary scrutiny”.

EU gave a long-delayed go-ahead last Friday to the huge trade pact with the South American Mercosur, overriding opposition led by key power France.

Officially, the EU’s Mercosur trade deal is a defeat for Europe’s farmers. In reality, farm lobbies just can’t stop winning.

French farmers have pressed on with protests on Monday, as Brussels confirmed that EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen will sign the long-awaited EU trade deal with Mercosur next weekend.

EU deal with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay will create a massive free-trade area, showing that broad multilateral deals remain possible in a global order upended by Donald Trump.

The chair of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee has said he regrets there wasn’t more “political leadership” on the Mercosur trade deal. Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South West John Lahart said he felt the case was not made for the trade deal before the Government ultimately decided to vote against it at EU level.

Agriculture accounts for nearly a quarter of Brazil's GDP and employs one in five Brazilians. These figures began their rise 40 years ago, largely based on the development of GMOs and the transformation of the country's soils.

An interim agreement aimed at reducing tariffs between the EU and the South American bloc will remain in effect until the full partnership agreement is ratified by EU member states.

The EU-Mercosur deal has been signed. The free trade agreement will remove numerous tariff barriers between the EU and the Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay). This has led to significant unease among European farmers,

Under the treaties, the EU may provisionally implement the deal with Mercosur countries, without waiting for the European Parliament. MEPs would still retain the power to vote on the conclusion of the agreement.