Will the Mercosur-EU contract end? – Others – December 2, 2023
For more than 20 years, discussions have been underway between Mercosur and the European Union to conclude a trade agreement covering 31 countries, 720 million people and around 20% of the global economy.
In recent months, diplomatic representatives from both blocs have stepped up efforts to finally conclude and sign the agreement. This urgency stemmed from the election of Argentine President Javier Millais, who opposed the treaty. Government officials had planned to finalize the deal at a summit in Rio de Janeiro next week, just days ahead of Mailay’s inauguration ceremony in Buenos Aires.
try reading this please:
On Saturday, February 12, countries supporting the agreement, including Brazil, were surprised when French President Emmanuel Macron issued a statement opposing the agreement. In an interview in Dubai, where the United Nations climate change conference (COP28) is taking place, Macron said the agreement was “outdated” and inconsistent with the environmental aspirations of countries like Brazil.
Macron’s statement came shortly after his meeting with Lula and represents a serious setback for the Brazilian president, who has been one of the pact’s main supporters. Moreover, Macron criticized the Mercosur-EU deal as being harmful to the environment, a point of particular sensitivity during COP28 when Brazil sought to demonstrate leadership on the ecological agenda.
In the interview, President Macron praised Lula and emphasized the Brazilian president’s vision and courage. But he expressed opposition to the agreement, arguing it was incompatible with measures taken in Brazil and France. Macron emphasized that the bilateral agenda between the two countries is dense, but also emphasized that the agreement is contradictory. He added that although the clause was initially included to satisfy France, it was not actually in anyone’s interest. He highlighted the difficulty of asking farmers and industrialists in France and Europe to commit to decarbonizing while tariffs on imported products that do not follow these guidelines are eliminated.
Read the full report
Click here
