Brazil Criticizes Carrefour’s Move to Reject Mercosur Meat in France
Brazil has expressed strong disapproval over French retailer Carrefour’s decision to exclude South American meat from its shelves in France, calling the move an attempt to undermine the European Union-Mercosur trade deal.
Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro described the announcement as part of an “orchestrated action” by French businesses to derail the agreement, which is set to be finalized this year.
Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard announced the decision in a social media post, stating, “Carrefour wants to form a united front with the agricultural world and is today committing not to sell any meat from Mercosur.”
He claimed the trade deal could introduce meat products to France that fail to meet local standards.
Despite this pledge, Carrefour clarified to Reuters that the decision only applies to French stores and does not reflect concerns over the quality of Mercosur meat.
The company confirmed that stores in other regions, including Brazil and Argentina, will continue sourcing Mercosur products.
Brazil’s Response and Industry Criticism
Brazil’s meat industry group, Abiec, criticized Carrefour’s stance as contradictory, pointing out that the retailer’s Brazilian unit operates 1,200 stores selling mostly domestic beef.
The Agriculture Ministry emphasized that Brazil, as the largest exporter of beef and poultry globally, adheres to strict standards, including those of the EU.
Uruguay also weighed in, with Conrado Ferber of the National Meat Institute calling Carrefour’s decision “regrettable” and contrary to the principles of free trade. “It disregards the basis of free trade that allows economies to grow,” Ferber stated.
A Broader Trade Tension
This controversy highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the EU-Mercosur trade deal, which seeks to strengthen economic ties between Europe and South America.
Favaro alleged that Carrefour’s move serves as a pretext to prevent France from endorsing the agreement, casting doubt on its potential impact on global trade dynamics.
Carrefour’s decision underscores the challenges of balancing local agricultural concerns with the benefits of international trade agreements, as Brazil and its Mercosur partners continue to advocate for the deal’s completion.
Explore the implications of Carrefour’s decision on Mercosur meat and what it means for global trade. Visit our homepage for more analysis.
