EU-Mercosur Clinches FTA Despite French Opposition
On 6 December 2024, the EU and Mercosur announced the signing of a Free Trade Agreement (#FTA) in Montevideo. France has expressed fears for its agrifood sector and the deal still needs to be ratified by the EU Parliament.
The Mercosur consists of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay and negotiations for an FTA started more than twenty years ago. Combined together, the EU-Mercosur bloc boast a market of some 780 million people.
EC President Ursula von der Leyen hails the deal not only as ‘an economic opportunity but also a political necessity.’ On the other hand, Uruguayan President Luis Pou also underscored the huge opportunity the FTA will bring.
In a bid to assuage fears from EU farmers, quotas on beef, poultry or sugar are embedded in the agreement to ‘avoid disturbances in the EU market.’ From the other side, EU cheese and ham will be hit by lower tariffs and enjoy larger market access in Mercosur. Wine is also a hotly contentious product as Argentina and France are both major producers.
The deal also incorporates amended environmental standards acceptable to both sides to prevent environmental concerns forming a road block to enhanced trading. In the past, certain EU farming lobby groups pointed the finger to ‘poor environmental standards’ of certain agricultural products from Latin America to justify their non-admittance in the EU market.
Proponents highlight the urgent need to diversify from China and to hedge against the rising economic nationalism of the US. As an example, a section makes reference to certain #CriticalMinerals such as #lithium which is crucial for the push towards #EV in the EU.
On the EU side, Germany and Spain are leading the charge to seal the deal while France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Austria have raised some concerns.
Before the FTA can come into effect, the EU Parliament must rally at least 15 members out its 27-state membership, or get 65% of the EU population to back the deal. France has already indicated its opposition and will try to mobilize EU countries to block the deal.