Lula bluntly stated that this move is "concerning" trade | Brazil | Lula
According to Agence France Presse on June 12th, the European Union is making every effort to add new environmental provisions to a trade agreement with the South American Common Market. Brazilian President Lula said today that Brazil is "concerned" about this.
It is reported that Lula held talks with Ursula Vondrein, President of the European Commission, in Brasilia. He said at the subsequent joint press conference, "Strategic partners should establish a relationship of mutual trust rather than suspicion and sanctions."
After 20 years of negotiations and reaching a consensus in principle in 2019, the European Union and the Southern Common Market countries - Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay - are attempting to finalize a trade agreement.
But the approval process of the 27 member states of the European Union has come to a standstill, especially due to European concerns about environmental protection in the Southern Common Market countries - especially in the Amazon rainforest. During the period of the far right former president Jail Bosonaro's presidency from 2019 to 2022, the rate of deforestation in this rainforest has sharply accelerated.
The EU has therefore proposed "supplementary provisions" for environmental protection.
▲ On the 12th, Lula and von der Leyen attended the press conference together in Brasilia.
![Lula bluntly stated that this move is "concerning" trade | Brazil | Lula](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/1558dfd4bf8046d96c6b580fef41ba42.jpg)
The report stated that although senior left-wing figure Lula claimed to be anti Bosonaro in environmental policies, his response to the proposed additions to the agreement was straightforward.
Lula said: "I expressed Brazil's concern to President von der Leyen." "It expanded Brazil's obligations, making it possible to be sanctioned if it does not comply with the regulations."
He accused EU lawmakers of attempting to legislate "outside their own territory", and these provisions would "change the balance of the agreement.".
However, von der Leyen expressed optimism about finalizing the agreement before the end of the year. She said, "We have the means to reach an agreement as soon as possible."
Brazil is the first stop of von der Leyen's Latin America trip. She will also visit Argentina, Chile and Mexico. A week ago, the European Union proposed a new plan to strengthen relations with the region.