France's Macron tells Brazilian execs that prospective Mercosur-EU deal is 'terrible' and outdated
French President Emmanuel Macron has told Brazilian executives that a proposed deal between the European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur is bad for both parties
SAO PAULO — French President Emmanuel Macron told Brazilian executives on Wednesday that a proposed deal between the European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur is bad for both parties.
Speaking at a forum in Sao Paulo, Macron said the Mercosur-EU deal is outdated and needs reworking to take climate change into account. His comments reinforced his opposition, which has been the most outspoken among European leaders.
“The trade deal with Mercosur as it is being negotiated now is a terrible deal. For you and for us,” Macron said, according to the translation into Portuguese by Sao Paulo's Industry Federation, whose headquarters held the event. “It was negotiated 20 years ago. We need to rebuild it.”
Macron opposes any agreement so long as South American producers fail to adhere to the same environmental and health standards as Europeans. Farmers raised concerns about pesticides during protests across Europe earlier this year.
Mercosur is formed by Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
“You can try to reanimate that flame, but it is not the same thing. We need to rebuild it as the world is now. It is important to take diversity and the climate into account, and those are not being considered,” Macron added. “(We want) a responsible trade deal, that has development, climate and biodiversity. A deal for a new generation, with clauses that allow reciprocity.”
Macron hadn't mentioned the topic at the start of his three-day visit to Brazil, during a busy schedule in the Amazon city of Belem with his counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da
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