Trade Deal Guarantees Follow French Pesticide Ban

European Union officials offered new guarantees on fertilizer costs and import controls to finalize the Mercosur trade pact following France's ban on pesticide-tainted food imports.Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed early access to 293.7 billion euros in agricultural funding to secure support from hesitant nations like France and Italy.The agreement with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay is scheduled for a final signing on January 12 amid ongoing farmer protests in Brussels.