Farmers in the European Union have voiced their concerns after the European Union struck a deal with a group of South American countries.

A historic deal between the EU and the Mercosur trade block, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, was signed on Friday June 28 after 20 years of negotiations. South American countries intend to increase exports to Europe of beef, sugar, poultry and other agricultural products.

Negotiations between the two blocs over the years have sometimes been unsuccessful due to sensitivity to the EU beef market. European farmers claim that South American countries have not come close to meeting food safety, animal welfare, or EU environmental standards.

Last year, for example, Brazil, the world's largest exporter of red meat, was in the center of international attention because of the widespread scandal with beef, which seriously damaged the country's authoritative sector.

But the EU says trade negotiations will allow European companies to save more than four billion euros in trade duties per year. However, the Copa-Cogeca Agricultural Cooperative, representing 23 million farmers across the EU, said the deal was “a very dark moment” for the industry.

And the largest agricultural union in France, FNSEA added: “It is unacceptable to sign the MERCOSUR-EU agreement, which will expose European farmers to unfair competition, and consumers - to complete deception."

Meanwhile, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro called the trade deal historic and one of the most important trade deals of all time.