France, June 5 -- Speaking during his first state visit to France Thursday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to back an EU trade deal with four Latin American countries. French farmers have warned that the EU-Mercosur deal could be devastating for the country's domestic agriculture industry.

France has staunchly opposed ratifying the so-called Mercosur agreement, a trade deal between the European Union and four South American nations including Brazil, over fears a flow of lower-cost agricultural goods would outcompete Europe's farmers.

"Open your heart a little to this opportunity to finalise this agreement with our dear Mercosur," Lula said during a state visit to Paris.

"This ...