Mercosur-EU: France refuses to sign a deal that would condemn its farmers

French Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard clarified her country’s stance on the Mercosur-European Union trade deal, saying that “France will not sign an agreement that would condemn its farmers.” The comment comes days after French President Emmanuel Macron said he felt “rather positive” about the agreement, which is in its final negotiation stages. He said so during a visit to Brazil ahead of the United Nation’s COP30 world leaders climate summit, which began on Monday. “The president said he was ‘rather positive’ because our work is starting to pay off but also vigilant because the agreement is not acceptable without our conditions,” Genevard said in an interview with Le Journal de Dimanche published on Saturday. The minister stated that France is demanding concrete guarantees to protect the country’s agricultural sector and will not sign a deal without solid clauses. France is the EU nation with the most reticent stance on the Mercosur-EU deal. “Mercosur: the fight continues! Our red lines are clear: safeguard clause, mirror measures, and effective controls,” Genevard wrote in an X post sharing the interview. “Our demand: protect our industries and guarantee food security.” 🗞️ Mercosur : le combat continue !Nos lignes rouges sont claires : clause de sauvegarde, mesures miroir, contrôles effectifs. Notre exigence : protéger nos filières et garantir une alimentation sûre.@leJDD https://t.co/BFNhO3qI2z— Annie Genevard (@AnnieGenevard) November 9, 2025 In the interview, Genevard said that, in addition to the safeguard clause, France wants the agreement to strengthen EU customs and improve import control, as well as having “mirror measures” to control both parties equally.  “We cannot demand strict rules from our farmers and at the same time accept, on our domestic market, products made with substances or processes that are banned in Europe,” she said. Macron’s statements “I feel rather positive, but I remain vigilant because I also defend the interests of France,” Macron had said. His statement raised criticism from French farmers, who have insistently opposed the deal, arguing that lifting trade barriers on South American agricultural products would severely harm them. Macron has long been reluctant to sign the agreement, citing not only concerns for the French agricultural sector but also demanding that it be aligned with the Paris climate deal. The parties have amended the conditions of the deal, adding a specific agricultural safeguard clause that can be activated in certain situations upon the request of a member state or a sector. However, the clause must be accepted by the Mercosur countries. EU-Mercosur deal In early September, the European Commission filed its final proposals for the EU-Mercosur trade deal to the European Council, which represents the governments of the European Union member states. Once the council discusses the agreement, it should be debated in the European Parliament, a process that could finish this year. If approved, Mercosur countries will then need to green-light it, although it could be partially put into action before that happens. The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states in Europe. Mercosur is a South American trade bloc formed by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Bolivia is not part of the new deal, as it became a member after the debate over the agreement began. The EU and Mercosur have been negotiating a trade deal for 23 years. While negotiations concluded in 2019, the process was nevertheless delayed when Europe sought additional commitments on issues such as the environment and Amazon deforestation. Five years later, in December 2024, the parties announced that a final agreement had been reached.