Overview
- Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard said France will not sign a pact that she argues would ultimately condemn French farmers.
- She set conditions that include a targeted agricultural safeguard clause, tougher sanitary controls, measures to block imports that fail EU environmental and health rules, and an emergency brake to counter price shocks from import surges.
- Genevard stated that France will keep its position until the required guarantees are written, validated, and accepted by Mercosur partners.
- Her stance contrasts with President Emmanuel Macron’s recent remarks in Brazil that he is quite positive about eventual approval while remaining vigilant, comments that drew criticism from political parties and farm groups.
- The agreement was signed in late 2024 and adopted by the European Commission on September 3, 2025, but it still needs approval from all 27 EU member states, with countries such as Poland, Austria, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Hungary also expressing doubts.