Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee said it was not clear when a vote on the EU-Mercosur trade deal will take place.
The European Commission had been hoping for EU member states to approve the trade deal through a weighted majority vote in the coming days in order for it to be formally approved in Brazil on December 20.
However, France has sought to delay the vote.
In a statement last night, French prime minister Sébastien Lecornu said safeguards proposed by the Commission to reassure farmers were "still incomplete".
"France can only pronounce itself in a definitive manner on the basis of concrete, precise elements that can be put into action, and not just on the basis of announcements," his office said.
"This is why France is asking for the next steps in December to be pushed back, to continue the work and to obtain legitimate protections for our European agriculture," it added.
Speaking in Brussels, Ms McEntee said: "We've been very clear on the concerns that we have had in relation to Mercosur, in particular, for our beef farmers".
"We have always said that we will work with like minded countries on these issues, and we are working through and we are assessing the situation. At the moment, we don't have a date for a vote. We're not clear when a vote may or not happen, whether it's before or after Christmas," she added.
Ms McEntee said it was unclear whether or not there was sufficient support among EU member states for a so-called Qualified Majority Vote (QMV) in favour of ratifying the Mercosur trade deal.
"What we don't know is whether or not there is a majority [through] QMV in moving forward here, and so we'll continue to work with colleagues," she said.
Under QMV rules, it would take at least four member states representing 35% of the EU's population to create a blocking minority.
While Ireland, Poland, Hungary and Austria remain opposed, it is understood the trade deal would only fall if Italy and France both opposed the deal.
EU-Mercosur trade deal faces bumpy ride to finish line
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is due in Brazil on Saturday to sign in the agreement, which, 20 years in the making, would create the world's biggest free-trade area.
But she first needs to get approval from member states. Wrangling is set to go down to the wire, with up to 10,000 farmers planning to descend on the Belgian capital to vent their anger at the deal during a leaders' summit Thursday and Friday.
The deal will allow the EU to export more vehicles, machinery, wines and spirits to Latin America, while facilitating the entry of South American beef, sugar, rice, honey and soybeans into Europe.
Fearing negative fallout for its agricultural sector - a concern shared by farmers in Poland and elsewhere - France has been clamouring for robust safeguard clauses, tighter import controls and more stringent standards for Mercosur producers.
It still faces an uphill battle to block the treaty, which only needs support from a weighted majority of EU countries to pass.
"There will be no vote in 2026. It's before December 20 or the deal is dead. And the French know it very well," said one diplomat, granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive deliberations.
Complicating matters, the European Parliament is to vote tomorrow Tuesday on "safeguard" measures aimed at reassuring farmers - and placating France.
EU states have already approved the safeguard clause in question, but lawmakers may decide to strengthen it further.
In another gesture aimed at Paris, the commission last week announced tighter checks on farm imports to ensure they meet EU standards, and pledged to update rules on pesticide residues to prevent banned substances entering via imports.
Von der Leyen intends to join the leaders of Mercosur members Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay in Foz do Iguacu for the signing.
Even if she seals the deal in time to fly there, the battle will not be over.
The European Parliament must still give its final approval to the accord, likely in early 2026. Insiders expect a close vote, with national interests weighing heavily.
Additional reporting by AFP
