France, Feb. 23 -- French President Emmanuel Macron has reiterated his intention to block the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, arguing that it threatens French agriculture, undermines environmental standards, and creates unfair competition for European farmers.

Speaking at theParis Agricultural Show on Saturday,President Emmanuel Macron said thatFrance is ramping up its efforts to form a "blocking minority" within the European Union to prevent the implementation of a trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur.

The agreement, announced in December by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, aims to establish a vast free trade zone encompassing more than 700 million people across the EU and Mercosur nations - Argentina, Brazil, Pa...