President Emmanuel Macron affirmed on Sunday in Buenos Aires that France would not “sign as it stands” the free trade treaty between the European Union and Mercosur, saying he wanted to “reassure farmers” and “continue” to oppose it.
“France opposes this agreement. And I will tell you: President (Javier) Milei, he told me himself that he was not satisfied” with this text, declared Emmanuel Macron, after a visit to Argentina at the during which he spoke twice with his Argentine counterpart.
“It would be very bad for our agriculture”
In this context, Emmanuel Macron reported having told his host that “for Argentina, [l’accord UE-Mercosur] would be very bad for its reindustrialization, and for us it would be very bad for our agriculture.”
“We do not believe in the pre-agreement as it was negotiated,” explained Emmanuel Macron, questioned by the press on the airport tarmac, before leaving Argentina for Brazil where he is to participate in the summit of the G20.
Asked about the possibility that the European Union could override the French position, Emmanuel Macron replied “I don't think so”, saying “recognize[tre] to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen great respect for France.
“Defend our model”
“We cannot ask our farmers […] to change their practices, to do without certain phytosanitary products”, in order to have “high quality” production, and “at the same time open our market to massive imports of products which do not respect the same criteria”, underlined the head of state.
“Several countries within Mercosur”, and “several other European countries”, besides France, “are not satisfied with this agreement”, noted Emmanuel Macron. “So, we will continue to work firmly to defend our model,” he insisted, believing that “if we are all reasonable, there is a possible path, but it will not be to the detriment of our farmers” .
The European Commission, supported by several countries such as Germany and Spain, hopes to sign by the end of the year the free trade treaty negotiated for decades between the EU and the Mercosur countries (Argentina , Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia).
French farmers, supported by a unanimous political class, plan to mobilize against the treaty from Monday.
