France maintains its opposition to the Mercosur-EU agreement over lack of guarantees for the agricultural sector

France’s Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard, stated that the guarantees offered by the European Commission to protect French agriculture in the event of a trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur “are not sufficient,” EFE reported.

In a post on her social media accounts, Genevard acknowledged that there had been “progress” compared with the original proposal —which she described as “unacceptable in both substance and form”— but warned that “the numbers still don’t add up.”

The draft agreement, approved by the European Commission on September 3, seeks to facilitate European exports of industrial goods such as automobiles, machinery, and alcoholic beverages to Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia), in exchange for greater European market access for agricultural products such as beef, sugar, rice, and soybeans.

Genevard emphasized that “France’s red lines have been clear from the start”: an effective safeguard clause to suspend imports in case of market destabilization, reinforced controls at entry points, and guarantees that imported products meet the EU’s sanitary and environmental standards.

In early September, the European Commission proposed adding additional safeguard clauses to protect the European agricultural sector, but both the minister and major farmers’ unions consider the measures insufficient.

The president of the National Federation of Agricultural Holders’ Unions (FNSEA), Arnaud Rousseau, criticized President Emmanuel Macron’s stance, noting that during his visit to Brazil for COP30 he appeared “rather optimistic” about the agreement. “It’s a complete betrayal —he’s turning his back on French agriculture,” said Rousseau, who called on French members of the European Parliament to “oppose the treaty as a bloc.”

“Ensuring that the same rules apply outside Europe as those demanded for our producers is a non-negotiable condition,” the agricultural leader stressed.