Poland has voiced opposition to the current form of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, aligning with France's resistance, due to concerns over exposing European farmers to competition from South America. The EU-Mercosur deal, involving Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay, has been criticized for permitting substantial imports of products not subject to the EU's stringent regulations. "Poland does not accept, and we are not alone, we will not accept in this form the agreement with the countries of South America, that is the Mercosur group, on free trade," stated Prime Minister Donald Tusk. France, hosting a parliamentary debate to address French farmers' protests against the agreement, praised Poland's position. Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard emphasized the importance of not treating farmers merely as international bargaining chips.
French farmers have expressed concerns over the deal's impact on agriculture, particularly in France. "Mercosur is very bad for agriculture, especially French agriculture. We will bring in products that cannot be produced here, so we will inevitably not be competitive with these countries," remarked Christian Adam, a French farmer. The EU-Mercosur agreement would facilitate the entry of additional quantities of beef, sugar, poultry meat, and maize into the EU market. France, as the EU's leading agricultural producer, seeks to persuade other EU nations to oppose the deal collectively.
Source: Reuters