EU to sign agreement with Mercosur despite farmers’ protests

Representatives of the European Union member states today, January 9, supported the signing of a free trade agreement with the countries of South America (Mercosur bloc).

A majority of the 27 EU states, representing 65% of the bloc’s population, said they agreed to continue considering the proposal, Deutsche Welle reports.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen could sign the agreement with the EU’s Mercosur partners Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay as early as next week.

The document must be approved by the European Parliament before it can enter into force.

The agreement aims to diversify trade against the backdrop of US tariffs and should bring EU member states closer to Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay by eliminating import tariffs on more than 90% of products. The EU claims that the bloc’s businesses will be able to save billions on tariffs each year, and that this will help exports of vehicles, equipment, wines and spirits to Latin America.

Some key EU players have not supported the decision. In particular, French President Emmanuel Macron said that French political forces unanimously reject the deal.

“France is in favor of international trade, but the EU-Mercosur agreement is an agreement from another era, negotiated for too long on outdated principles,” Macron said.

Farmers in Spain, France and Germany have protested against the signing of the agreement in recent days. Today, December 9, Polish farmers marched against the EU-Mercosur agreement, farmer.pl reports. They marched in Warsaw from the parliament building to the prime minister’s office, where they are planning to pitch tents. Police have completely blocked tractors from entering the Polish capital to prevent a repeat of the riots that took place the day before in Paris.

EU farmers are concerned that the deal threatens markets with cheaper imports from South America.

Tags: EU