<h1>South American trade bloc and four European countries strike free trade deal covering 300 million people, $4.3T GDP</h1> A South American trade bloc signed a free trade agreement with four non-EU European countries establishing a tariff-reducing free trade zone covering nearly 300 million people and over $4.3 trillion GDP. The pact addresses goods, services, investment and intellectual property, aims to liberalize market access for more than 97% of exports, and could lower consumer prices. The agreement requires ratification by each signatory to enter into force. Negotiations began in 2017 and the deal is positioned as part of broader diversification of trade partners in response to global tariff tensions; parallel larger EU negotiations remain pending ratification.