The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), criticized this Monday (25), the statement by the CEO of Carrefour, Alexandre Bompard, about the French supermarket chain not buying any meat from Mercosur.
“It is not possible for the CEO of an important group like Carrefour not to retract a statement of practically not contracting animal proteins coming from and originating from South America. Brazil, like the National Congress, like businesspeople and the population, has need to give a clear answer”, said Lira at the opening of the event CNC Global Voicespromoted by the National Confederation of Commerce and other entities.
According to the president of the Chamber, congressmen need to “give a clear answer so that this exaggerated protectionism, especially from France, [para que] not be a reason for unfair protectionism against the interests of those who protect [o meio ambiente] under the strictest law with our Brazilian forestry code”.
In addition to Lira, the statement also generated a series of criticisms and boycotts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (Abiec), which brings together 43 companies in the sector responsible for 98% of meat exported.
Given the situation with the French Carrefour, Lira informed that she intends to discuss this week, in the plenary of the Chamber, a bill that deals with economic reciprocity between the countries. This is PL 1406/24, authored by deputy Tião Medeiros (PP-PR), which prevents the Brazilian government from proposing or signing international agreements with environmental clauses that restrict national exports without the signatory countries implementing equivalent protection measures. environmental.
Legislative advances in sustainability
On the occasion, Lira also highlighted the advancement of topics such as environmental sustainability and energy transition, driven by consensus between political and business leaders in Brazil.
“It is an inspiring perception, because, if the harmony between Congress and civil society managed to enable a transformation as profound as tax reform, it could certainly also allow the development of a new green economy and the necessary steps to achieve greater economic efficiency “, he stated.
Among the recent milestones, Lira mentioned the approval of the National Biokerosene Program, the Legal Framework for Energy Microgeneration, the Green Mobility Program, the Legal Framework for Low Carbon Emission Hydrogen and the Future Fuel Law.
“The fruits are already being harvested. According to this year’s Bloomberg report, Brazil was the third country in the world that attracted the most investments in renewable energy in 2023, totaling more than 25 billion dollars, behind only China and the United States” , he stated.
Lira also pointed out that these numbers reflect both the impact of specific policies and the modernization of the Brazilian economy as a whole. “This performance is part of a broader movement. According to the OECD, Brazil was the second largest destination for foreign investment in 2023. We are more integrated into the global economy than ever before. We have advanced in economic stability, legal security and strengthening of agribusiness, one of the pillars of our growth”, he declared.
“Advances are being made in a consistent and responsible manner, thanks to the commitment of national leaders. The success in discussions and votes in the Chamber of Deputies highlights how political understanding is essential for the country’s prosperity”, he concluded.
