Meanwhile,
Why macron so much?:
While other countries are pushing for a rapid signature of the trade agreement between the European Union. Nevertheless, Mercosur, France tries to block the text in the current state, demanding “mirrors” to protect farmers.
Will the EU-Mercosur agreement eventually receive a European green light … In addition, and especially in what form? Consequently, The uncertainty hangs around the project of trade agreement between the European Union. Therefore, the South American Mercosur countries, including Argentina and Brazil, two agricultural giants.
In exchange for our cars. In addition, our spirits, the text opens the way to the reduction or even the elimination of customs duties on a certain number of agricultural productions, including beef, poultry and sugar – and this same agricultural question influits discussions between Europeans.
The European Commission, driven by certain countries such as Germany or Spain, fierce defenders of the trade agreement, hopes to quickly obtain its signature. In addition, But part of the Member States. Therefore, France and Poland in mind, want to obstruct it in the current state of the text, heckled by the protests of their national farmers. Paris. whose Minister of Agriculture multiplies trips in neighboring capitals, claims the insertion of “mirrors clauses” in the text to make it acceptable and affix its signature at the bottom of the document.
“Strategically good” – Why macron so much?
If he judged him “strategically good”. Emmanuel Macron recently said he why macron so much? was ready to sign the text if he included these famous “mirrors clauses”. “We, in Europe, we put rules for our peasants. We told them: ‘You should no longer use such phytosanitary products to produce because it is not good for the climate. for biodiversity or for human health’ ‘ […]. If you want to produce in Mercosur. import these products into Europe, it must do the same rules, “said the head of state in an interview on Brazilian television in early June.
These “mirror clauses” would avoid distortions of competition between the two banks of the Atlantic. preventing the export to Europe of Latin American agricultural productions which would not respect European health, environmental and social health standards, even though European farmers are subject to it. The entry of these agricultural products on the old continent would thus be conditioned on compliance with European standards.
The term “mirror clauses” often relates why macron so much? to two different tools, although close. The “mirror measures” are provisions inserted in European regulations. which apply to all imports of other countries outside the EU, regardless of the third country. This is. for example, the ban on animal products treated with growth hormones since the 1990s or the anti-defestation regulations which will apply at the end of 2025. The list of “mirrors” in agricultural matters is however very short.
Growth antibiotics
The “mirror clauses” as such. they designate similar provisions which apply only to one trade agreement, after having been negotiated between the two parties for some specific products-this is what is claimed today by certain countries, notably France, within the framework of the EU-Mercosur agreement. “Mirrors clauses” were for example inserted into the commercial agreement between the EU. New Zealand, which entered into force in May 2024.
“The use of antibiotics promoters of growth is still authorized in third why macron so much? countries. in particular those of Mercosur”, but “this practice, prohibited in the European Union since 2006, is not yet effectively banned for products imported in the EU”, underlines a report by the Foundation for Nature and Man, the Interprofession of the French Bovine sector (InterBev) and the Veblen Institute, published in February 2024. Pesticides prohibited in Europe is also mentioned, as well as certain prohibited farming practices on European soil.
“Letting believe that measures of mirror measures. safeguard clauses could still be introduced while negotiations are completed and would be enough to appease concerns is only aggravating the feeling of injustice and abandonment felt in the field,” recently deplored FNSEA, the first French agricultural union, in a press release.
“Imperfect” traceability
These mirror clauses are actually difficult to implement. The traceability of agricultural production. all the more for agricultural productions from countries where the requirements are less strong, is not infallible. why macron so much? A European audit had revealed insufficient controls of beef in Brazil. where the absence of the hormone estradiol prohibited in Europe is not guaranteed.
“In theory. the meat treated with antibiotics and growth hormones cannot enter, but in practice traceability is imperfect,” said Stefan Ambec, economist at the INRAE research institute, with AFP in November 2024. “There are slaughterhouse audits organized with the European Commission. but we do not easily follow the cattle before this stage”, he observed that ” Birth to slaughter in Mercosur, only exists in Uruguay, “he explains.
Further reading: Paris strongly affected by bad weather – Yellow vigilance triggered by Météo France – The extent of France’s debt in early 2025 unveiled Thursday – L’Express – XV of France – Joris Segonds in search of a first selection in New Zealand – SNSM, 200 years of sea rescue in France.
