Environmental problems could “get worse” if the Mercosur-EU agreement does not enter into force, says the government | Politics

In the note, prepared by the Ministries of Foreign Relations and Agriculture, the government also affirms that the non-entry into force of the agreement represents a “disincentive to efforts” by Brazil to “strengthen” environmental legislation.

The free trade agreement between Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay) and the European Union was announced in 2019, after 20 years of negotiations. The two blocks together bring together some 750 million consumers.

To enter into force, the agreement must be approved by local parliaments. However, some countries claim that the Bolsonaro government’s environmental policy is an obstacle to ratification. Last week, France reaffirmed that it opposes the current agreed version.

“The non-entry into force of the Mercosur-EU Agreement would send a negative message and would establish a clear disincentive to the country’s efforts to further strengthen its environmental legislation. Furthermore, the non-approval of the agreement would have negative social and economic implications, which could aggravate even more environmental problems in the region, “declared the Brazilian government in Tuesday’s note.

In the text, the ministries do not explain what environmental problems would worsen; how they would get worse; nor why would the lack of ratification of the agreement “aggravate” the situation.

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In the document, the Brazilian government refutes claims that the agreement between the economic blocs would increase the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and that non-approval would have negative social and economic implications.

In the note released on Tuesday, the government also states that it sees the need for other countries to deepen their knowledge of the “Brazilian reality” and consider the “technical data available on the subject.”

“This agreement does not pose any threat to the environment, human health and social rights. On the contrary, it reinforces the multilateral commitments and adds the best practices in the matter ”, says the text.

According to the government, the French report presents arguments that are not based on technical criteria, suggesting that the entry into force of the association will have an environmental impact. Ministries say the report reveals protectionist concerns on the part of France.

The Brazilian government says that the terms of the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union recognize the relationship between social and economic development and environmental protection by predicting that trade liberalization can make a positive contribution to sustainable development in Mercosur countries in the environmental dimension. , economic and social.

Production and deforestation

Still in the note released on Tuesday, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture affirm that the central argument of the French report is based on the idea that the agreement will lead to an increase in beef exports from Mercosur countries to Europe, which would lead to increased deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.

For the ministries, Brazil can increase the production of meat, soybeans and corn while reducing deforestation. The text cites the period from 2004 to 2012 as an example.

The note from the ministries does not mention the increase in the number of fires registered in 2019 and this year in the Amazon. Nor does it mention the destruction by fire that affects the Brazilian Pantanal and neighboring countries. The portfolios argue that the increase in production in Brazil is due to technological innovation and without the need to use new areas for crops.

The Brazilian government also maintains that for block-sensitive agricultural products, the parties will negotiate quotas. These limitations, the text argues, would limit exaggerated stimuli to production, since exports would be limited.

The Brazilian government’s statement cites as examples beef and chicken (which will be sold by Mercosur to the European Union) and milk powder and garlic (exported by Europe to Mercosur).