Ratification of the EU-US trade deal, agreed last summer, looks set to progress to a vote in the European Parliament in the coming weeks. Deliberation of the pact had stalled after members of the parliament balked at US policies on issues as diverse as trade, Greenland and, most recently, Iran.

Lawmakers have negotiated a compromise on the unpopular deal which will allow the EU to suspend the agreement in case the US threatens Europe’s territorial integrity. There is also a sunset clause included which means the deal will automatically expire in two years unless it is explicitly extended.

A committee vote is expected on 19 March, with a full parliament vote likely in late March or early April.

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Elsewhere the EU is expected to conclude the long-awaited trade deal with Australia early next week.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen scheduled to travel to the country and meet prime minister Anthony Albanese on 24 March.

Even at this late stage, the exact figure for the beef quota under the deal has not been finalised.

There was also progress on the Mercosur deal in South America with both Paraguay and Brazil ratifying the trade agreement, meaning all the signatory Mercosur countries have finished their national approvals of the pact.