France urges EU to delay vote on Mercosur trade deal

France has called on the European Union to postpone a planned vote on the long-negotiated trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc, citing insufficient safeguards for European farmers.

In a statement on Sunday, the office of French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said EU member states cannot authorise the EU-Mercosur trade agreement in its current form. Paris has requested that deadlines be extended to allow further work on enforceable “mirror clauses” and other measures to protect the European agricultural sector.

Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure reiterated France’s position in an interview with German newspaper Handelsblatt, describing the treaty as “simply not acceptable” in its present form. He highlighted three conditions that must be met before France will approve the deal: effective safeguard clauses, the application of EU production standards to imported goods, and robust import controls.

The French government’s objections come amid broader opposition to the EU-Mercosur agreement. Last month, activists staged protests outside the European Commission in Brussels, drawing attention to environmental, social, and agricultural concerns. Environmental campaigners and farmers have warned that the agreement could undermine EU agriculture and contribute to deforestation in Mercosur countries. France’s call to postpone the vote reflects these long-standing objections, highlighting the pressure from civil society and the agricultural sector for stronger safeguards and enforceable measures before any agreement is ratified.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to visit Brazil on Monday to finalise the trade pact, which has been in negotiation for over 20 years with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. However, the Commission must first secure approval from all EU member states, and France has made clear that it will not consent until its conditions are fully addressed.

If ratified, the EU-Mercosur agreement would create a common market encompassing 722 million people. The EU is Mercosur’s second-largest trading partner in goods, exporting $67 billion in 2024, and its largest foreign investor, with a stock of $458 billion in 2023. European nations are expected to vote on the agreement later this week, while the European Parliament will also consider safeguard measures to protect farmers, particularly in France.

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