The EU-Mercosur trade deal still seems to be causing a degree of friction after only 25 years of negotiation, but nobody has ever accused the EU of being precipitate.
According to Bing AI -
The negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the Mercosur trading bloc officially began in 1999. After numerous challenges and interruptions, a major political agreement was finally reached in June 2019, marking about 20 years of negotiations. The process has been lengthy and complex, involving many rounds of talks and a wide range of issues.
France will oppose the Mercosur treaty right until the end
Paris risks an embarrassing defeat this week, just as its government faces possible censure and collapse. But this won’t be the end of the saga.
The negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the Mercosur trading bloc officially began in 1999. After numerous challenges and interruptions, a major political agreement was finally reached in June 2019, marking about 20 years of negotiations. The process has been lengthy and complex, involving many rounds of talks and a wide range of issues.
France will oppose the Mercosur treaty right until the end
Paris risks an embarrassing defeat this week, just as its government faces possible censure and collapse. But this won’t be the end of the saga.
Nationwide protests against EU-Mercosur deal start in Poland.
Protests organised by Polish farmers in opposition to the European Union's Mercosur agreement, the Green Deal and recent regulations concerning animal rights, have begun on Tuesday.
Former Uruguayan President José “Pepe” Mujica has described the core problem in simple terms which was probably obvious 25 years ago, but it does seem to go to the heart of the matter.
Regarding the stalled Mercosur-EU trade agreement, Mujica blamed resistance from European agricultural sectors, particularly in France. “They can’t compete with Mercosur,” he said, dismissing environmental and social concerns as pretexts for protecting local markets.
Former Uruguayan President José “Pepe” Mujica has described the core problem in simple terms which was probably obvious 25 years ago, but it does seem to go to the heart of the matter.
Regarding the stalled Mercosur-EU trade agreement, Mujica blamed resistance from European agricultural sectors, particularly in France. “They can’t compete with Mercosur,” he said, dismissing environmental and social concerns as pretexts for protecting local markets.
4 comments:
It's a version of the 'closed shop' playing out on a continental basis. Since the EU has always been protectionist a certain amount of 'tension' is inevitable.
DJ - and presumably EU negotiators are paid however long the negotiations take.
It's difficult to see why a country like France, let alone the whole EU, needs to engage in agricultural trade at all. They can grow and rear almost anything themselves. They need a few less protests and a bit more adaptation. Give the public what they want, rather than protecting what they think they do well.
Sam - I think it's the old political problem, to move forward we can't start from here. A good reason for leaving the EU.
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