BRUSSELS, June 17 (Reuters) - U.S. grains merchant Bunge

and Glencore ( GLCNF )-backed Viterra's plan to create a

$34 billion agricultural trading giant will be decided by EU

antitrust regulators by July 18, a European Commission filing

showed on Monday.

The companies announced their merger a year ago to rival

global giants Archer-Daniels-Midland ( ADM ) and Cargill

.

The Commission, which acts as the EU competition enforcer,

can either clear the deal with or without remedies after its

preliminary review or it can open a four-month investigation if

it has serious concerns.

Bunge Chief Executive Greg Heckman has said the company may

be able to avoid having to sell assets to win regulatory

approval thanks to healthy competition in commodities market in

Canada, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, China and parts of

Europe.

The Canadian competition watchdog, however, has cited major

concerns while farm groups voiced similar worries.

The deal also needs the regulatory green light in North

America, South America and China.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee

Editing by David Goodman

)