French farmers have begun their second week of mobilization, notably against the free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur. The text, negotiated since 1999, is almost unanimously against it in France. A debate followed by a vote on this subject is planned for this Tuesday in the Assembly. French farmers denounce unfair competition. But what would be the interest on the other side of the Atlantic, for the Mercosur countries, in signing this agreement?
As for the countries of the European Union (EU), one of the main interests of the free trade agreement lies for the countries of the Mercosur in the opportunity to diversify their exports. The objective for Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia is to depend less on China and UNITED STATES.
This concern is all the more relevant since Donald Trump wrote on Monday, November 25 that he will impose from the start of his mandate in January a 10% surcharge on all Chinese products imported into his country, and that the world fears a strong return to the trade war between Beijing and Washington.
450 million European consumers
According to a study published in 2020 by the London School of Economics (LSE), commissioned by the European Commission, the agreement would increase the GDP of Mercosur countries by at least 0.3%.
Agricultural raw materials
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