By Philip Blenkinsop and Lisandra Paraguassu BRUSSELS/BRASILIA, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday for more time to back the contentious EU-Mercosur trade deal,

BRUSSELS (AP) — Italy signaled on Wednesday that it might not support a massive transatlantic free trade deal between the European Union and South American countries, casting further doubt on the agreement as European leaders gather for a summit in Brussels and farmers enraged by the trade pact descend on the capital.

Italy is prepared to support a trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc once agricultural concerns are resolved, stated Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. While expressing readiness to sign,

Germany and the EU executive have been making a last-ditch attempt to convince Italy to back a free trade agreement with South American bloc Mercosur, which will falter if not signed soon, a leading EU lawmaker said on Tuesday.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government is not ready to sign a massive trade agreement with South American countries this week, publicly joining France’s opposition and casting doubt on the pact’s future.