It has been 11 months since the farmers The French blocked the main routes of the country, to protest the precariousness of the sector and unfair competition from other markets. The countryside has returned to the fray with new mobilizations, starting this Monday, against the pact with Mercosurand against the measures presented by the Government of Emmanuel Macron in support of the sector, which have not quite convinced farmers.
However, the free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur seems inevitable, despite France’s reluctance. The political agreement was reached in 2019 after more than 20 years of negotiations, but the text has not been completely defined, and European states are pressing to close the agreement as quickly as possible, given the return of Donald Trump to the White House on January 20.
The French country maintains its resistance to this free trade pact with Latin Americaone of the largest areas in the world, since it considers that it would mean unfair competition for its agriculture and livestock, especially in the meat and corn sector. If this agreement becomes official, it could be the end for many French farmers, who would not be able to compete with products from this region as they are cheaper due to the lower production costs. Another point that distances France from this treaty is the aspect environmental. The Amazon deforestation It especially worries Macron, who insists on the need to create pacts, laws and measures that promote ecology and are in line with the Paris Agreement.
G20 in Brazil
These new mobilizations of French farmers coincide with the beginning of the G20 in Brazil this Mondaywhere it is feared that the agreement with Mercosur, made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay y Bolivia. The Minister of Economy insists that France uses “all means” to block this free trade agreement. Besides, more than 620 French parliamentarians addressed the European Commission through a letter published in The World on November 12, showing their opposition. “We do not want French agriculture to be threatened by this agreement,” denounced socialist senator Patrick Kanner.
Children insist en que las environmental practices of those countries, such as Brazilare not the same as those of France, causing a clash of agricultural models, unfair competition and a breach of French health laws: “The pesticides spread at a rate of six kilos per hectare, while in France it is half”, as well as the “multiplication of antibiotics to make animals gain weight, is contrary to everything we try to do,” he insisted in an interview with France Info.
With the threat of new farmers’ blockades on France’s main roads and borders, Spanish transporters have asked the authorities to intervene so that they are not affected by the protests planned for the coming days and that their right to free movement is respected.
Trump’s tariffs make the EU uncomfortable
The European Union economy is stagnant, and the pact with Mercosur may be the perfect wild card for European markets. Latin America is the sixth largest economy in the world and has 300 million people. So for Europe it would mean a new window to the diversification of its markets, and limit its dependence on China.
In addition to anticipating the future measures that the future president of the United States intends to take, which could trigger a trade war with the EU. Trump promised his voters customs duties of 10% to 20% on imports to the country, and even 60% in the case of Chinese products.
This protectionist cocktail would directly affect the EU, the main exporter to the US market. Hence, some European leaders are eager to close the Mercosur agreement before Trump arrives at the White House.
Brussels insists on the benefits for France
Brussels seeks to conquer France through numbers. According to their data, Mercosur would benefit French exports of wine and dairy products to the region. In addition, the treaty will reduce or exempt from customs duties a maximum of 99,000 tons of beef, which represents 1.6% of EU production.
Still, France remains closed on this: “Under current conditions this agreement is not acceptable to France, and it will not be,” Prime Minister Michel Barnier stated on November 13. However, it is not just France they have to convince; Ireland y Netherlands They are also opposed to this pact. Although they do not gather enough support to block this new project.
