France’s Senate has voted to reject the Mercosur free trade agreement between the European Union and South American countries, following a similar vote in the National Assembly, as farmers continue to protest against a deal they say would bring unfair competition.
The lower house of parliament voted nearly unanimously Wednesday against the deal that is being negotiated in Brussels, a day after the upper house voted the same – a rare show of political consensus in a politically divided France.
The deal between the 27-member European Union and Mercosur countries Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay was agreed on in 2019, but has stalled as it moves through approval votes in individual countries.
France says the free trade agreement will devastate its agriculture sector, and farmers again took to the streets last week to express opposition, saying it will bring unfair competition.
A second week of farmers protest this week is focused more on what they call constraints put on them by regulations – a main topic of concern during massive farmer protests that broke out at the start of the year.
France looking for allies
With both houses of parliament voting to reject the deal, France is sending a strong message to other European countries, said Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.
Poland has joined France in opposing the agreement, and need two other European countries to form a blocking minority.
French President Emmanuel Macron said last week that France was working with Poland, Austria, Italy and other EU countries "that have the same concerns".
The opposition clashes with Brazil, which has been pushing for a swift approval.
“I intend to sign this agreement this year,” Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday, adding that France does not get to decide on the outcome.
"Ursula von der Leyen has the power to make the agreement happen," he said, referring to the head of the European Commission, which determines trade policy for the EU.
Germany and Spain have both said they want the trade deal completed swiftly.
(with Reuters, AFP)
