EU-Mercosur deal still 'not acceptable' for France
The EU's trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur, which has drawn the ire of French farmers, "is still not acceptable" in its current form for France, government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon said Wednesday.
"The agreement as concluded... by the European Commission last December is not acceptable in its current form. It is still not acceptable," said Bregeon, adding Paris will take a "definitive" position based on the "guarantees" it obtains.
The European Commission has set a deadline of December 20 to obtain the green light from European states on the agreement.
French agricultural producers are looking for more protection after Brussels and Mercosur agreed to form a 700-million-customer free-trade area, the world's biggest, last year.
The measures still need parliament and member states' approval, but there has been strong pushback in France amid fears that lower-cost agricultural goods from South American producers would outcompete Europe's farmers.
Source: Agence France Presse
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