EU Commission Endorses Mercosur Deal Despite French Reservations
The EU has signed off on a landmark trade agreement with Mercosur nations, introducing new safeguards to protect European farmers and manufacturers. Despite strengthened guarantees, France continues to lead opposition, citing risks to local agriculture as the European Commission pushes for swift ratification by member states and Parliament.
Brussels has approved the long-debated trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur nations — Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay — adding new legal protections to shield sensitive European products from market disruption. The European Commission pledged swift intervention should rising imports of beef, poultry, sugar or ethanol threaten EU farmers.
France remains the main holdout. Paris has repeatedly warned that an influx of cheaper Latin American goods could erode Europe’s agricultural competitiveness. Still, French government spokeswoman Sophie Primas cautiously welcomed the latest safeguards, saying Brussels had “heard France’s reservations,” while noting ministers need time to assess the details.
The Commission now wants the 27 EU governments and the European Parliament to ratify the deal before the end of 2025. With Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva holding the rotating Mercosur presidency, officials in Brussels argue the timing could hardly be better. “There is no reason to wait,” one senior EU source told AFP.
The agreement forms part of a broader EU strategy to strengthen ties with “reliable partners” amid intensifying global competition. Facing rising tariffs under President Donald Trump’s administration in the U.S. and pressure from Chinese industries, Brussels hopes to diversify trade links.
European exporters — especially in cars, machinery, wines and spirits — stand to gain greater access to South American markets, while Europe would open more to meat, honey, rice and soybean imports. According to EU estimates, the accord could save up to €4 billion annually in tariffs. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed it as a “new opportunity” for European business.
Fierce Opposition
But opposition remains fierce. Agricultural lobby group Copa-Cogeca condemned the endorsement as a “damaging political manoeuvre,” while France’s FNSEA union vowed ongoing protests, with demonstrations planned in Brussels. Political critics across the French spectrum have also mobilized — the National Rally calling any softening by President Emmanuel Macron a “betrayal” and the left-wing France Unbowed demanding a national campaign against ratification.
In the European Parliament, MEP Pascal Canfin has joined others pushing for stronger safeguards and more transparency before any vote. Environmental and food safety concerns continue to add pressure, with critics saying South American producers fall short of EU standards.
Still, support from Germany and other pro-trade member states is growing. France alone cannot block the deal: under EU rules, at least four countries representing 35 percent of the bloc’s population would be needed to form a blocking minority.
After years of impasse, Brussels hopes that the updated package’s protections may finally tilt momentum toward ratification.
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