Brazil’s ex-president Lula supports ratification of MERCOSUR-EU agreement at European Parliament

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – “We don’t want a Latin America focused exclusively on agribusiness and mining. We are fully capable of also being industrialized, technologically advanced countries,” the ex-president said.

“The agreement is currently stalled because of the distrust of European countries regarding compliance with environmental commitments made by the Brazilian government,” he added.

Lula also said that Brazilian agricultural production does not depend on the Amazon. “We have vast extensions of arable land, we have technology, advanced agricultural research. Our food production does not need to deforest the Amazon to export soybeans or raise cattle. The criminal activities of those who destroy the environment must be punished, and cannot harm the entire Brazilian economy,” he said.

With the memorandum of intent signed in 2019, the agreement began to falter last year because of the poor image of Jair Bolsonaro’s government and Brazilian products on the European continent.

For the full picture, see our Mercosur EU Trade Deal: Complete Guide.

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