Swiss Upper House Approves Mercosur Trade Deal With $646 Million Farmer Support Package

Switzerland's Council of States, the upper chamber of the country's parliament, has approved a free trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc of South American nations, according to a report by Anadolu Agency.

The chamber voted 31-7 in favor of the deal, the report said, moving it forward despite an earlier rejection by the lower house of parliament.

As part of the approval, lawmakers also endorsed a support package worth $646 million intended for Swiss farmers, according to Anadolu Agency.

The Mercosur trade bloc includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Trade agreements between European countries and the bloc have faced scrutiny in recent years, particularly from agricultural sectors concerned about competition from South American producers.

Anadolu Agency's report did not provide further details on the timeline for the deal's implementation or the specific provisions of the farmer support package.

It remains unclear how the discrepancy between the two chambers of the Swiss parliament—the lower house's earlier rejection and the upper house's approval—will be resolved, as the report did not specify next legislative steps.