France Leads Opposition to EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement

French lawmakers overwhelmingly reject the deal, citing threats to agriculture and environmental concerns, as Brazil pushes for swift approval.

Both houses of the French Parliament voted decisively against the EU-Mercosur trade deal, with 484 votes in the National Assembly and 338 in the Senate opposing the agreement in its current form.
French farmers have staged protests, arguing that the deal would introduce unfair competition from South American agricultural imports and undermine local farming practices.
France is working to form a blocking minority within the EU, seeking support from countries like Poland, Austria, and Italy, while Germany and Spain advocate for the deal's completion by year-end.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has reiterated his intent to finalize the agreement in 2024, asserting that the decision lies with the European Commission, not individual member states.
The EU-Mercosur deal, negotiated over 25 years, faces criticism for its potential environmental impact, lack of transparency, and perceived failure to align with European climate and biodiversity goals.