Citing “concern” for his country’s farmers and food security, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said his government “will not accept” the prospective free trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur block in its current form, joining its “primary ally”, France, in forming a blocking minority to against the agreement.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday Warsaw would not accept the free trade deal negotiated by the European Union and the Mercosur bloc, joining the opposition against it led by France.
The contours of the agreement with the Mercosur bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay were agreed in 2019, but some EU countries have blocked it going any further over competition concerns.
“Poland will not accept… the free trade agreement with the South American countries, that is, the Mercosur bloc, in this form,” Tusk told reporters before a cabinet meeting.
His pro-EU government adopted a resolution opposing the current draft of the Mercosur deal, citing “concern for Polish farmers and food security” as the main reason.
France has been seeking to form a blocking minority against the deal — an alliance that, under EU rules, would require at least four member states to succeed.
(AFP)
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