These statements were made on the eve of the summit of heads of state and government expected to approve the free trade pact between the two regions, in Brussels.
“France’s demands are far from being accepted. And an agreement that exposes our farmers is impossible,” declared Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard on Europe 1 radio.
French farmers also criticize the free trade agreement with Mercosur, fearing a massive influx of cheaper South American products due to less stringent regulations than those in Europe.
“For us, this treaty is unacceptable in its current form,” stated Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure in an interview published today by the economic newspaper Les Echos.
Lescure recalled that France set “three conditions for its agreement: strong and operational safeguard clauses, on which the European Parliament will vote this Tuesday, similar measures to protect citizens and ensure fair competition by applying the same rules to imported products as to European products, and import controls.”
“We are waiting to see if these conditions will be met,” he responded when asked if European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will receive the mandate from European leaders next week to sign the agreement with Mercosur in Brazil on December 20, as planned.
