ZURICH — Switzerland’s lower house of parliament has turned down a trade agreement with the South American trading bloc Mercosur, following pushback from lawmakers on both the political right and left.
The vote, which took place late Wednesday, resulted in the accord being rejected by a margin of 96 to 86, with nine abstentions. The agreement had been reached last year.
Opposition to the deal came from two very different directions. Conservative lawmakers, many representing agricultural interests, stood against it, as did left-leaning parties who raised concerns about labor standards and the ongoing destruction of the Amazon rainforest.
Despite the lower house rejection, the process is not necessarily over. The agreement will now be considered by the upper chamber of parliament, and if approved there, it could be sent back to the lower house for another vote.
Mercosur is a South American trade bloc made up of four nations: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
