By Oliver Pieper - The free trade deal between the European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur could become the world's largest agreement, involving a market of a total of 780 million people. But in late March, French President Emmanuel Macron not only described it as “a very bad agreement,” he even suggested it should be “left behind” and called for “a new agreement.”
French President Emmanuel Macron told a business forum in São Paulo that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the South American Common Market (Mercosur) and the European Union (EU) needed to be ”renegotiated from scratch,” Agencia Brasil reported.
Presidents Emmanuel Macron of France and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil Thursday visited the Itaguaí Naval Complex, the facilities in the State of Rio de Janeiro where the Tonelero (S-42) submarine -a joint undertaking between the two countries- was christened by First Lady Rosângela Lula da Silva.
Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Emmanuel Macron launched Tuesday in Belém a € 1 billion investment bioeconomy program for the Brazilian Legal Amazon as well as for the part of the Amazon within French Guiana to raise funds through public and private investments over the next four years, Agencia Brasil reported.
In a move to address the ongoing protests by French farmers, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal unequivocally declared France's rejection of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement. The decision, previously hinted at by President Emmanuel Macron, aims to alleviate the grievances of farmers who have been blocking roads and highways across the country. France's two largest farmers' unions said in a statement that they will lay siege to Paris from Monday.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal Friday announced his country's decision once again to oppose the free trade deal between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur amid protests from local farmers objecting to President Emmanuel Macron's latest measures affecting agrifood production.
French President Emmanuel Macron Saturday pledged € 500 million over the next three years to Brazil's Amazon Fund, while the United Kingdom announced an additional £ 35 million (around € 40.78 million) in addition to the £ 80 million (€ 93.22 million) it had already announced in May, Agencia Brasil reported.
French President Emmanuel Macron hosted the leader of UK's opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, at Elysee Palace in Paris on Tuesday. The meeting comes as Starmer — increasingly confident that he can oust the ruling Conservatives and bring Labour back into government for the first time in well over a decade — has been making a number of appearances on the world stage.
Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou Thursday discussed the European Union-Mercosur trade deal with his French colleague Emmanuel Macron while meeting ahead of the Rugby World Cup clash in Lille between the two countries' national teams, which the hosts eventually won 27-12.
Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou has accepted the invitation of his French colleague Emmanuel Macron to join him in Lille for the Sept. 14 Rugby World Cup game pitting La Bleu against Los Teros (as the national teams of both countries are known), it was reported Thursday in Montevideo.