After 20 years of negotiations, the European Union and the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) reached a draft deal for a free trade agreement on June 28. While most European and South American governments praised the deal, it will be years before it can actually be implemented, as many of the agreement's details have yet to be determined.
But most importantly, the deal still needs to be ratified by the 28 governments of the European Union and the four governments of Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), along with the European Parliament. And because of this, domestic pushback and potential political transitions in South America and Europe in the coming months risk killing the deal before it's ever enforced. ...