Jair Bolsonaro irritated? The far-right president does not hesitate, in any case, to go to a head-on collision. Vilified for the increase in deforestation since his election in 2019, the head of state brandished the threat in mid-November.
We will reveal in the coming days the names of the countries that have illegally imported timber from the Amazon ”, warned Bolsonaro before adding that “some of them are the harshest critics […].
A pressure strike addressed directly to Europeans who publicly attacked its management, during the devastating fires of theAmazonia and the Pantanal. And in particular the France, which blocks discussions on the free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur (Brazil, Argentine, Uruguay, Paraguay) due to deforestation.
Also read. Report: South of the Brazilian Amazon, the Pantanal reserve is also burning
Commercial sanctions
The president also fears trade sanctions, as the numbers soar. Between August 2019 and August 2020, 11,088 km2 of Amazon rainforest have been destroyed. A such level had not been reached for twelve years.
Except that, in his attempt at customs clearance, Jair Bolsonaro does not specify one thing … As a loyal defender of agro-industry, his government has indeed, since February, drastically reduced controls on the origin of exported timber.
A few days after the threat, like after a fit of anger, he finally did an about-face. We are not going to accuse any country of committing or being complicit in this crime, but we will instead ask them for help to fight deforestation.
, said the head of state, who has however always denied the extent of the damage. Because he too is under pressure. And even more since the election of Joe Biden against his ally Donald Trump. Biden, who during the campaign had promisedeconomic consequences
in the event of inaction in the face of deforestation.
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