The French government has announced it will not sign “as it stands” a proposed free trade deal between the European Union (EU) and the Mercosur economic bloc of South American countries Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, citing environmental concerns and notably the deforestation of swathes of the Amazon region for cattle farms. But while EU member countries appear increasingly divided over the terms of the trade agreement, French economist Mathilde Dupré, co-founder of the Paris-based Veblen Institute think tank on economic issues surrounding ecological transition, tells Mediapart why what she calls a “climaticidal” deal may yet go ahead.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex has announced that France will not sign up to the current terms of a proposed free trade deal between the European Union (EU) and the South American Mercosur economic bloc because of environmental and climate concerns and notably the deforestation of swathes of the Amazon region for the benefit of producers of beef, a key export for the Mercosur group, made up of made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
