French president follows opposite line of Brazilian businesspersons, who call for deal’s approval

03/28//2024

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President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Emmanuel Macron — Foto: Silvia Izquierdo/AP

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended increased cooperation with France in the area of national defense, to ensure Brazilian sovereignty in the face of growing conflicts around the world. The statement was made on Wednesday, during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Brazil.

“Our partnership reinforces Brazil’s resoluteness to achieve greater strategic autonomy, which is crucial in the face of the multiple crises and challenges faced by humanity in the 21st century,” he said.

Presidents Lula and Macron attended a ceremony launching the “Tonelero” submarine into the sea. It is the third of four conventional diesel-powered vessels built by the Submarine Development Program—a strategic partnership between Brazil and France. The event was held at the Itaguaí Naval Complex, located on the south coast of Rio de Janeiro.

The event was attended by ministers José Múcio (Defense), Mauro Vieira (Foreign Affairs), Silvio Costa Filho (Ports and Airports), and Nísia Trindade (Health), as well as the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro. On the French side, Chancellor Stéphane Séjourné was also present.

In his speech, President Lula did not mention other countries, but pointed out the increase in conflicts around the world and the “animosities in the democratic process”, globally. He also stressed the need to maintain peace in Latin America and South America—a line of speech he had adopted when Venezuela and Guyana came into conflict at the beginning of the year.

In the afternoon, in São Paulo, Mr. Macron said the trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur is “a terrible deal”, and therefore he cannot defend it as it is.

“The trade deal with Mercosur, as it is being negotiated now is a terrible deal,” he said, speaking at the 8th Brazil-France Economic Forum, in São Paulo. In his opinion, that is because negotiations began 20 years ago, which makes it invalid to face challenges such as climate change and the conservation of biodiversity.

“This deal, as it is, I don’t defend it,” he said. Mr. Macron added that, under the deal, French companies governed by stricter environmental laws—as in the case of pesticides—will face competition from rivals that do not follow the same standards.

“I say this from a country that produces with low carbon,” he said, adding that Brazilian companies have this consideration and the government is committed to fighting against deforestation. “We need to leave behind something that was built 20 years ago and look for a new deal, built on new goals, that considers the fight against deforestation, climate change, and the fight for biodiversity.”

The French president’s speech came in the opposite direction of the speeches of authorities and businesspersons attending the event, held at São Paulo’s Industry Federation (Fiesp) headquarters. Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who spoke just before, pointed out the long-standing partnership between the two countries and added: “France is a great trading partner for Brazil, but we can make it [the partnership] grow even more.”

Mr. Macron started his speech by mentioning the strong presence of French capital and companies in Brazil and asking Brazilian investors to take a closer look at France. He defended a new deal that includes cross-partnerships for industry decarbonization and investment in cleaner economic activities and energy production.

“Brazil managed to face challenging periods. It has solid growth, it knew how to control inflation and resist the unrest that democracies around the world sometimes experience,” he said. “We believe in Brazil, in its growth model. We have to unite and I am convinced that this union is part of the solution to winning the fight for climate and biodiversity.”

Representatives of Brazilian industry defended the signing of the trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur. Ricardo Alban, the president of the National Industry Confederation (CNI), said the two countries need to move forward in exploring “win-win” situations. He said that Brazil is the ninth destination for French exports, but ranks 34th among imports by the country.

“We are confident that in the long term, the benefits of integration between the two regions will outweigh the problems,” Mr. Alban said.

Josué Gomes da Silva, the president of Fiesp, said Brazil and France relations go far beyond trade. “This 8th forum reopens and strengthens these relations. The Mercosur and European Union trade deal will benefit both regions. We believe that both regions can benefit a lot, especially France,” Mr. Gomes said. “President Macron’s visit to Brazil demonstrates the interest of both countries in increasingly strengthening their relationship.”

France is the most vocal European country in opposition to the trade deal, finalized in 2019 but never approved. In January, under strong pressure from farmers, Mr. Macron said he had even demanded that the negotiations be halted.

*Por Camila Zarur, Marcelo Osakabe — Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com/