Hogan rejects Brazil claims on Mercosur

Brazil's claim that the EU is dragging its feet on Mercosur is robustly rejected by European Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan.

Phelim O'Neill

5 September 2018

European Agriculture Commissioner at a briefing for Irish media in Brussels

EU Trade Commissioner Cecelia Malmstrom (right) with EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan (left) at WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires

European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan has rejected Brazil’s accusations that the EU was dragging its feet on a Mercosur trade deal.

In a strongly worded statement, he said: “The EU made a clear and explicit offer to the Mercosur countries in January of this year, and ... the Mercosur countries have delayed their response to our meaningful offer.”

The next round of negotiations is scheduled to begin on 10 September in Uruguay.

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