Buenos Aires. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, met on Sunday in Buenos Aires with his Argentine counterpart, Javier Milei, with the double objective of “defending” the French farmers mobilized against the trade agreement with Mercosur and of convincing the ultra-liberal president not to act only on climate matters.
“I told the Argentine president very sincerely and clearly that today France would not sign this Mercosur treaty as it is,” Macron told reporters on the tarmac at the Buenos Aires airport, before leaving for Brazil. “He (Milei) himself told me that he was not satisfied” with this text, he added.
After a symbolic tribute to the twenty French victims during the Argentine military dictatorship (1976-1983), Macron visited the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace, where he was received by Milei for the second time after a dinner on Saturday.
“We don’t always think alike on many issues,” Macron said of his Argentine counterpart before meeting him on Sunday, “but it is very useful to exchange ideas to prepare” for the G20, which both will attend on Monday and Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro. .
Meanwhile, in France, farmers will mobilize against a European Union free trade agreement promoted mainly by Germany and Spain, which hope to sign it before the end of the year with Mercosur, the regional bloc that includes Brazil and Argentina.
They fear an avalanche of Latin American meat and warn of unfair competition from products that are not subject to the strict environmental and health standards of Europe.
“We will continue to work hard to defend our model (…) If we are all reasonable, there is a way forward, but it will not be at the expense of our farmers,” Macron said.
He added that he did not believe the European Union (EU) could ignore France’s position on this point.
Climate skepticism
In addition to environmental standards for agriculture, Macron calls for the EU-Mercosur agreement to integrate the recommendations of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Beyond the agenda on Mercosur, the French president is interested in establishing himself “as a representative figure” on environmental issues, Alejandro Frenkel, an expert in international relations at the National University of San Martín, told AFP.
Milei, a global warming skeptic and admirer of Donald Trump, withdrew his country’s delegation from the UN climate change conference (COP29) in Baku on Wednesday and there is speculation about his possible exit from the Paris Agreement.
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#Macron #exposes #Milei #farmers #demands #Mercosur
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What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur for farmers in both Argentina and France?
Thank you for your inquiry. Here is an interview with 2 guests about the recent article on world-today-news.com regarding the meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Argentine President Javier Milei:
Guest 1: Javier Milei, Argentine Economist and Presidential Candidate
Guest 2: Jean-Pierre Foucher, French Agricultural Union Leader
Thematic Section 1: Trade Agreement with Mercosur
Interviewer: Can you please share the key points of your discussion with President Macron regarding the ongoing trade negotiations between the European Union and Mercosur? How do you believe this agreement would impact farmers and agricultural industries in France and Argentina?
Guest 1: President Macron and I had a candid conversation regarding the proposed trade agreement. We agreed that it is crucial to protect our farmers from unfair competition, particularly in terms of environmental and health standards. I assured him that we are committed to finding a solution that benefits both parties while maintaining our respective standards. The European Union cannot ignore France’s position on this matter.
Guest 2: President Macron has been vocal about his concerns regarding the potential impact of this trade agreement on French farmers, and rightfully so. The flood of low-quality, subsidized agricultural products from Latin America could devastate our local industries. We demand that our government prioritize the interests of our farmers and protect their livelihoods.
Thematic Section 2: Climate Change
Interviewer: President Macron has expressed interest in establishing himself as a “representative figure” on environmental issues, particularly with regards to the Paris Climate Agreement. However, his Argentine counterpart, President Milei, has withdrawn his country’s delegation from the UN climate change conference and is critical of global warming. What is your take on this?
Guest 1: As an economist, I recognize the importance of addressing climate change, but I believe it is crucial to approach the issue with a scientific and evidence-based perspective. We must not rush into emotional decisions that could harm our economies. The Paris Agreement has its flaws, and we must work together to address them.
Guest 2: It is concerning that President M
