Emmanuel Macron is reportedly desperate to delay a new trade deal between the European Union and South American trading bloc Mercosur, as he seeks concessions from Brussels.
France is seemingly worried that the deal will undermine its farmers by flooding the country with cheap agricultural imports, according to Politico.
The trade agreement with Argentina, Brazil Paraguay and Uruguay could be given the green light as early as next week at the G20 summit in Brazil.
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier headed to Brussels on Wednesday to hold urgent talks with Ursula von der Leyen and the trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.
Brussels has described the trade deal as “a win-win for both the EU and Mercosur, creating opportunities for growth, jobs and sustainable development on both sides.”
However, Barnier said the deal would be “disastrous” and warned that France could “explode” if it was ratified.
The deal is deeply unpopular in France among both the public and political establishment.
European farmers held a protest in Brussels on Wednesday, in an attempt to pressure von der Leyen into a last minute U-turn.
“The EU-Mercosur agreement is very unfavourable for Europe,” Pierre Maison, a representative of the European farmers’ federation ECVC, told Euronews.
“It may be good for selling cars, but it will be very bad for agriculture.”
He claimed it would kill off small farmers by driving down prices, as well as adversely affecting Europe’s beef producers.
French farmers plan to take to the streets on Monday, when Macron is scheduled to hold talks with Brazil’s President Lula.
Their angry protests earlier this year succeeded in getting Brussels to put the Mercosur talks on ice and back down on green rules opposed by European agriculture.
The French President realises he cannot torpedo the deal, but is determined to extract as many concessions as he can.
France is insisting that Mercosur farmers meet EU production standards and that any breach of the commitments made under the Paris climate agreement will incur sanctions – such as a suspension of the deal.
“French authorities have been clear, the president has said it, the prime minister has said it, the agreement is not acceptable as it is,” an Elysée official told reporters on Thursday.
