Brazil's Lula wants to reach Mercosur-EU deal this year

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends a press conference at the National Institute of Educational Studies and Research (INEP) in Brasilia, Brazil November 5, 2023. REUTERS/Adriano Machado

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday he had told European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen that he wants to clinch a trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur while still presiding over the South American bloc.

Lula and von der Leyen had a phone call on Monday. According to the Brazilian leader, they will try to meet this month at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai to advance talks towards the long-awaited deal.