France says new report on deforestation confirms its EU-Mercosur trade deal concerns

The French government said on Friday that a new report on deforestation confirmed its opposition to the current version of the EU-Mercosur trade deal, the office of Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Friday. One worry has been the impact of the future deal on forests and the climate.

The French government said on Friday that a new report on deforestation confirmed its opposition to the current version of the EU-Mercosur trade deal, the office of Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Friday. France will work with other EU partners to set environmental conditions for a resumption of the trade talks, it added.

The European Union has been holding talks with the Mercosur group of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, the world’s fourth-largest trade bloc. One worry has been the impact of the future deal on forests and the climate.