Brazil

Macron Rejects Calls From Brazil's Lula to Consider EU-Mercosur Deal

Published JUN 5 2025

Story

Above: Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and French President Emmanuel Macron address a joint press conference at the Élysée Presidential Palace on June 5, 2025. Image credit: Christophe Petit Tesson/Contributor/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

French President Emmanuel Macron rejected on Thursday calls from his visiting Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to "open [his] heart a little to [the] opportunity to conclude" the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc.
France 24
The European Conservative
Macron said that he supports free and equitable trade, acknowledging that certain sectors would benefit from this deal, but that the text of the agreement must be improved with so-called mirror clauses to safeguard European farmers. Earlier this week, French farmers' groups told him that the EU-Mercosur deal would compromise the EU's food sovereignty ambitions.
Reuters
Valor International
This comes as Lula hopes to conclude the EU-Mercosur agreement by the end of the year, as he is set to serve as president of Mercosur in the second half of 2025. His plans include getting farmers together to settle their differences and reassure Brazil's commitment to fight deforestation.
France 24
Reuters
A political agreement was reached last December — after 25 years of negotiations — to eliminate tariffs on 91% of EU exports to Mercosur countries, mostly within 15 years, and on 92% of EU imports from Mercosur, mostly with immediate effect, and to set quotas on Mercosur beef, chicken, pork and other agricultural products such as corn and rice.
European Commission
AS/COA
The European Commission is expected to present its proposal on the trade agreement before the summer break in late July, which requires approval from at least 15 member states representing a minimum of 65% of the bloc's population to move forward. France remains a major holdout, while Germany, Spain, and Portugal back the deal.
Euractiv
The European Conservative
Macron and Lula also talked about the Ukraine war, with the French leader stating that Brazil — along with China and India — could do more to pressure Moscow to end the fighting. The Brazilian president is set to leave France on Friday, after attending a meeting with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and a state dinner with Macron.
Reuters
Valor International

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

This deal represents Europe's best chance to diversify trade partnerships and counter rising protectionism from both the U.S. and China. The agreement opens massive new markets for European manufacturers and gives European consumers access to more affordable products, and the deal also includes strong environmental and human rights safeguards.

Global Finance Magazine

The Economist

Narrative B

The deal exposes European farmers to unfair competition and could devastate the bloc's agriculture by flooding markets with products produced under lower environmental and labor standards. Brussels put corporate profits over food sovereignty and environmental protection, undermining decades of progress on sustainability standards.