MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
EU/Mercosur trade deal ratification delay: Brazil accuses France of “protectionist interests”
France said it was opposed to the deal, after a government-commissioned report blasted the accord as a “missed opportunity” to hold South American countries accountable for protecting the environment. 
The report notably analyzed the link between the expansion of beef production in Brazil and deforestation in the Amazon, where environmentalists accuse farmers, and land speculators of razing trees Brazil hit back Tuesday at European reluctance to finalize a trade deal between the EU and Mercosur blocs over concerns about Amazon deforestation, saying a French report on the issue was motivated by “protectionist interests.”
France said on Friday it was opposed to the yet-to-be-ratified deal, after a government-commissioned report blasted the accord as a “missed opportunity” to hold South American countries accountable for protecting the environment.
The report notably analyzed the link between the expansion of beef production in Brazil and deforestation in the Amazon, where environmentalists accuse farmers, ranchers and land speculators of razing trees to make way for crops and pasture.
But Brazil argued the report “showed the true protectionist interests of those who commissioned it.”
“Brazil has already shown it is capable of increasing beef, soy and corn production while also reducing deforestation,” the foreign affairs and agriculture ministries said in a joint statement.
“From 2004 to 2012, deforestation in the Amazon region fell 83% even as agricultural production increased 61%.... That is consistent with the historical trend of increasing agricultural production in Brazil resulting from productivity gains compatible with environmental preservation.”
The draft deal between the European Union and Mercosur -- Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay -- was agreed in principle last year after two decades of wrangling. But it still needs to be ratified by all 27 EU member states.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also voiced “significant doubts” about the deal, given the extent of deforestation, her spokesman said.
Top Comments
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Read all commentsNever going to be ratified.
Sep 23rd, 2020 - 05:24 pm 0Unless Murcosur agrees to EU imports with no corresponding exports to the EU.
And even then they will also want a complete reversal of deforestation.
Trade deals involve some “give and take” and hopefully both sides are better off overall.
However with 27 EU members all with a veto, those doing the “giving” the agricultural producers in this case (hopelessly inefficient agricultural producers) will always veto the deal, why should they suffer so German manufacturers can “take”.
The UK will have a trade deal with the EU before Murcosur, and that aint happening any time soon.
Pugol-TTWH
Sep 23rd, 2020 - 06:55 pm 0The EU will probably remain impotent in any major trade decisions. They have proven this by their inept negotiations with the UK — which I hope they BREXIT without an agreement.
I do predict that Boris and Donald will sign a remarkable trade agreement in 2021 — as Trump will aggressively demand large concessions from the Eurocrats.
I'm back in Chicuro, but yesterday I was very pleased to see my table-grape vineyards achieve bud break — the first sign of the coming Spring weather here.
¡Saludos!
Chicureo-CMoTA
Sep 24th, 2020 - 03:37 pm 0Here the days are getting shorter now and it’s turning noticeably colder.
Your turn for summer.
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