French Presidency States Opposition To EU-Mercosur FTA

Wires carrying comments from the Elysee Palace stating that French President Emmanuel Macron has "firmly reiterated to the EU Commission [that] it was impossible to conclude trade deal talks with Mercosur countries." The comments come as France, among other EU members, faces down major protests by farmers and agricultural workers angry about low pay, burdensome bureaucratic red tape, and the threat posed by FTAs.

• The EU and Mercosur are seen to be keen to reach a deal ahead of the June election to the European Parliament. Issues within the Mercosur bloc appear to have been largely resolved. Concerns that Argentinian President Javier Milei would seek to break up Mercosur or refuse to work with Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva appear to have not materialised in the face of Milei's efforts to boost Argentinian agricultural exports.
• The major issues remain in the EU. Deputies from Macron's Rennaisance party say the prospective deal must be reopnened to ensure climate and SPS standards in place in the EU are mirrored in Mercosur agricultural exports. Euractiv reports that, "To put an end to the Mercosur agreement in its current form, it would have to be reopened, which the European Commission categorically refuses to do, as do Germany, Portugal and Spain, while Austria’s opposition in principle to the agreement is starting to waver. French MPs are therefore urging Macron to “put pressure on the European Commission and our neighbours to listen to reason”..."