New import safeguards under discussion to secure Mercosur deal, French agriculture minister says
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Euractiv | 17 June 2025
New import safeguards under discussion to secure Mercosur deal, French agriculture minister says
by Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro
France’s Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard said an "additional protocol" to the EU-Mercosur trade deal, including additional safeguards for agriculture, is under discussion to secure Paris’s support for the agreement.
“This is one of the hypotheses that has been put forward: an additional protocol that would include robust safeguard clauses for agricultural products,” Genevard told reporters on the sidelines of an informal Council meeting of EU agriculture and fisheries ministers (AGRIFISH) in Warsaw on Tuesday.
France – backed by Poland – has for months spearheaded opposition to the long-negotiated trade agreement between the two blocs. The deal was politically concluded in Montevideo by Ursula von der Leyen last December.
Now, in a bid to win over French support, the Commission is reportedly considering a non-binding declaration addressing Paris’ concerns.
On 5 June, Brazilian President Lula visited the French capital in a charm offensive to sway French opinion, yet French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that the current version of the agreement remains a non-starter for Paris.
In Warsaw, Genevard warned that under the present terms of the deal, “large volumes of sugar” could be exported from Mercosur countries to the EU, posing a threat to Europe’s sugar industry.
“Prices are falling and there is talk of possible closures of sugar companies,” she said.
“Brazil has been very proactive in protecting itself. (…) Why shouldn’t we also have specific safeguard clauses for agricultural products?” Genevard added.
