Overview
- Minister Annie Genevard said France will not sign the agreement as drafted, arguing it would condemn French farmers.
- Genevard set conditions that include a formal agricultural safeguard clause, mirror measures to block non‑compliant imports, and reinforced sanitary checks validated by Mercosur partners.
- Her stance contrasts with President Emmanuel Macron’s recent comments in Brazil that he was quite positive about the deal, a tone criticized by the FNSEA’s Arnaud Rousseau.
- The pact, adopted by the European Commission on September 3, 2025, still needs approval from all 27 EU states, with France joined by Austria, Ireland and others voicing reservations.
- Mercosur leaders, including Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, continue to press for a December 20 signing in Rio, though France’s position increases the risk of delay or further negotiations.