German foreign minister to promote EU-Mercosur deal on South America trip

BERLIN, Jan 28 (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will personally lobby for the implementation of the EU's free trade deal with South American countries during a trip to region planned in March, he told lawmakers in the German parliament on Wednesday.

The European Union is facing a "difficult phase" amid concerns that partner countries Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay might call the agreement into question, he said.

It is thus important to make clear on the ground how important the deal is, he said, adding that he was convinced it could still be saved.

EU lawmakers dealt a blow to the contentious trade agreement this month by referring it to the European Court of Justice, potentially delaying it by two years.

However, an EU diplomat told Reuters last week that despite the looming court challenge, the trade deal will probably be applied on a provisional basis as soon as March.