Emmanuel Macron assures that “France will not sign” the treaty “as it stands”

The proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American Mercosur countries is one of the reasons for the recent mobilization of agricultural unions. France is currently opposed to this treaty.

“I told the Argentine president that France would not sign this Mercosur treaty as it stands,” assured Emmanuel Macron this Sunday, November 17 on the sidelines of his visit to the South American country.

“France will not sign this treaty as it stands,” he said, explaining that he wanted to “reassure (farmers).”

“We do not believe in the pre-agreement as it was negotiated,” said Emmanuel Macron, who believes that it would be “very bad for our agriculture”.

“We cannot ask our farmers in Europe to change their practices, to do without certain phytosanitary products, to have high quality agriculture and at the same time to open our market to massive imports of products which would not respect not the same criteria”, justified the head of state.

“Defend our economic interests”

The proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American Mercosur countries is one of the reasons for the recent mobilization of agricultural unions.

He promises to open the European market a little more to Latin American products, a prospect which alarms the agricultural sector. The European Commission, supported by several countries such as Germany and Spain, hopes to sign this treaty by the end of the year.

The subject is also on the menu of President Macron's tour of Latin America, which began this Saturday evening until Thursday. “One of the objectives is the defense of our economic interests,” explains Emmanuel Macron this Sunday.