The CNA received, on Monday (29), representatives from the European Union (EU) to discuss the progress of negotiations on the agreement with Mercosur and the legislation European anti-deforestation.
The vice-president of International Relations, Gedeão Pereira, and the director of the area, Sueme Mori, met with Paolo Garzotti and Inmaculada Monteiro, from the Directorate-General for Commerce (DG Trade), and Damian lluna, from the EU delegation at the Brazil.
The general director of Senar, Daniel Carrara, together with the coordinator of Commercial Intelligence and Defense of Interests, Felipe Spaniol, also participated in the meeting.
In turn, Sueme Mori spoke about the work of the CNA and explained that the Confederation has been following negotiations with the European bloc since the beginning. She is in favor of the text that was agreed in 2019, which provides for the expansion of access for Brazilian agricultural products to the European market.
However, the director highlighted the concern of rural producers in Brazil with the European Union Anti-Deforestation Law (EUDR), and other European regulations, which could negatively impact Brazilian exports of agricultural products to the European bloc.
“The Brazilian market is worried about the law because it could close doors to agricultural products. The CNA is in favor of the Agreement as long as there is a mechanism for rebalancing concessions, which guarantees the renegotiation of terms, if the EU adopts measures, such as the EUDR, that harm the access of Brazilian products, as provided for in the Agreement.”
Environmental agreement seeks balance between exports and sustainability
Paolo Garzotti explained that the Agreement is “very political” and that discussions with governments are progressing. The group is visiting all South American countries to talk to governments and private sectors.
He said Europeans pursue strong environmental policies without hindering exports, due to their dependence on agricultural imports. “The Commission wants to hear from all parties and we already understand the problem. We are loyal to the legislation, but sensitive to Brazilian concerns.”
The group also discussed the establishment of country risk, which will create a risk classification of Mercosur countries in relation to deforested areas.
Sueme Mori highlights that the classification discriminates between countries and that Brazilian rural producers already face environmental charges in export contracts. Therefore, she defends that the European Union differentiates between legal and illegal deforestation and speeds up the implementation of the law, respecting agriculture.
Source: datagro
