France Blocks EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Signing After 25 Years of Negotiations

France has called for a postponement of the signing of the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, which was scheduled to take place on December 20 in Brazil. The French government is asking for more time to continue negotiations on what it calls “legitimate” protections for European agriculture. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu made the request public on Sunday, just days before EU heads of state and government are set to meet in Brussels for their final summit of the year.

Lecornu stated that, with the Mercosur summit approaching, “it is clear that the conditions are not met for the EU Council to vote on authorizing the signing of the agreement.” He emphasized that France can only make a final decision based on “concrete, precise, and operational elements, not just announcements.” For this reason, France is requesting a delay in the December timeline so that negotiations can continue and protective measures for European agriculture can be secured.

The call for a delay comes amid growing unrest among French farmers. Many are protesting regulations that require entire herds of cattle to be culled if any case of contagious nodular dermatitis is detected. Farmers have also voiced strong opposition to the EU-Mercosur free trade deal, fearing an influx of cheaper South American products produced under less stringent standards than those in Europe.

While Lecornu acknowledged that the European Commission has listened to concerns from France and other EU countries and has proposed safeguards, he said these measures remain incomplete. He insisted they must be finalized and implemented effectively before France can fully assess their impact.

Negotiations over the EU-Mercosur agreement—which involves Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—have been ongoing for more than 25 years. In October, the European Commission presented a proposal for agricultural safeguards to complement the trade deal. However, France has set out three main conditions for its approval: robust and operational safeguard clauses (which will be voted on by the European Parliament this week), similar measures to protect consumers and ensure fair competition by applying equal standards to imported and European products, and strict controls on imports.

Since talks concluded in Montevideo in December 2024, France has maintained that the current version of the agreement is unacceptable. Lecornu reiterated that agriculture and consumer protection cannot be used as bargaining chips in trade negotiations.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa had planned to travel to Brazil on December 20 for the signing ceremony, pending approval from both the European Parliament and all 27 member states.

Beyond this specific agreement, France continues to defend its agricultural interests within broader EU policy. Lecornu said his government is committed to ensuring that resources allocated under the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) framework for 2028-2034 match France’s ambitions for agricultural sovereignty and food security. He stressed that France will oppose any move toward renationalization of agricultural policy or reduction in funding.

Lecornu also highlighted concerns about maintaining fair competition for French farmers, including access to affordable fertilizers and protection against carbon leakage. He affirmed that President Emmanuel Macron’s administration will keep pushing for a strong CAP both in France and across Europe to guarantee fair production conditions, food security, and agricultural sovereignty. According to Lecornu, “France will not compromise its status as a major agricultural power: this is a strategic priority.”