On June 6th, the visit of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to France ended, during which he engaged in intense dialogue with his counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, regarding the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. The dialogue seems stalled, and although Lula appeals to friendship to achieve an agreement before the end of the year, Macron sets conditions.
The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, continues to put pressure on closing the most ambitious trade agreement in recent years of Mercosur before a Macron who remains doubtful.
Why can’t I buy a Brazilian chicken one day, and then a French one? There is a lack of sensitivity, of interest, on the part of the French producers,” the Brazilian leader expressed to the media during the closing of the Franco-Brazilian business forum in the French capital.
During the forum, investors announced the commitment of a conglomerate of French companies to invest more than 17 billion euros. In his intervention, Lula added that the agreement between the European bloc and the South American one will be “a demonstration for those who want to defeat multilateralism,” once again inserting the idea that Mercosur can be a new ally of the Old Continent in the face of the new economic and political stance.
“The world does not want to have a ‘sheriff,’ the world has no owner, each country is sovereign and does what it understands,” the Brazilian concluded.
“Comrade Macron”: Lula appeals to their friendship to convince the French president
For months, Lula has been the most active South American president in the negotiations to finally conclude the agreement between the two regional blocs, especially when it comes to talking with the French president. Emmanuel Macron, which has been the main obstacle within Europe to finalize the treaty.
In his address on June 6, the Brazilian leader referred to his French counterpart as “companion Macron,” urging him to rethink his position and give the green light to “an agreement the world needs.”
Lula’s position for negotiating, at least publicly, with Macron varies between two almost diametrically opposed attitudes: between constant reproaches towards the Frenchman’s refusal and using his ideological affinity and friendship to try to convince him.
I’m going to take advantage of the friendship I have with Macron and I will call him every week and I will tell him: ‘Macron, my friend, my companion, let’s make the agreement,’ said the Latin American president in his characteristic joking tone.
Just yesterday, on June 5th, Lula asked Macron to “open his heart” in order to sign the agreement, besides warning that “he will not abandon the presidency of Mercosur” without having achieved the closure of the trade deal that would encompass an intercontinental market of 700 million people.
Despite this, the Brazilian changed his tone when he began to address the months left as president, rotating, of Mercosur, urging the French president to sign the agreement in the next six months.
The demands of the farmers, Macron’s shield
Although Lula’s attitude seeks to leverage the agreement with the EU based on personal affinity with the French leader, Macron remains firm in his government’s rejection, arguing that there are multiple doubts surrounding the conditions between European and South American farmers; the main point of contention between both parties.
In an interview with Brazilian television, Macron mentioned that he would only sign the agreement if “mirror or safeguard clauses” were introduced to level production conditions on both sides.
From the outset, the French position argues that European farmers are subject to strict quality and environmental protection standards, therefore competing with their Latin American counterparts, who have more lenient rules, would be unfair.
The French president claims that his requests are not protectionist, but “a matter of justice and coherence,” explaining that if European farmers have to adhere to strict production controls, those who want to export toEuropa
“they should do it under the same conditions”.
Macron’s most recent words echo those he delivered just a day ago, when he emphasized that the agreement does not benefit either side in its current form.
“The agreement, as it stands, is not good for the environment nor fair to French farmers and farmers across the rest of Europe,” President Macron pointed out on June 5th.