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An international group of researchers have concluded that the upcoming trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur bloc fails across multiple sustainability criteria.
Researchers from University of Oxford report that mechanisms to include and protect local communities, track goods and to enforce sustainability standards are lacking throughout the proposed deal's terms.
While the text of the trade deal states “increased trade should not come at the expense of the environment or labour conditions”, the researchers highlight that there are no legally binding enforcement mechanisms included.
Deforestation
The report warned that mechanisms to trace the origins of commodities with a high risk of driving deforestation, such as beef and soy, are absent.
Lead author of the report Dr Laura Kehoe said: “Even if we forget the Mercosur deal, European imports from the Mercosur bloc are driving one football pitch of deforestation every three minutes.
“We don’t need fancy new technologies to avoid fuelling conflict and ecocide abroad. What we need is EU leaders to take strong action.”
In addition to outlining where the Mercosur trade deal fails in supporting sustainability, the paper also argues that the deal stands in direct contradiction to the recently announced European Green Deal goals.
Ignoring evidence
IFA president Tim Cullinan has said the European Commission cannot continue to ignore the mounting evidence of Brazil’s degradation of the environment for beef exports.
“The Commission was explicit that Mercosur could not go ahead if Brazil failed to meet environmental standards. The report says the deal fails the sustainability test and should be abandoned.”
Hypocritical
At the recent informal EU Farm Council meeting, the German agriculture minister Julia Klockner said she was sceptical if the Mercosur agreement could be ratified in its current format.
The IFA president said it would be deeply hypocritical of the Commission to pursue a trade deal that conflicts with its own policy.
“Commission president Ursula von der Leyen cannot stand over this deal and should send a clear signal that the EU will not do business with Brazil when it continues to flout the law,” Cullinan concluded.
To read the full report, click here.
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