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News / 22 January 2025

It's time to say NO to the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement!

Today, the Dutch Parliament's Commission on Foreign Trade and Cooperation for Development is discussing the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. Despite repeated legislative motions passed by a large, multi-party majority, rejecting this agreement harmful to Mercosur and EU countries, the Dutch government has not yet expressed a clear rejection to the European Council.

For years, Both ENDS' has opposed the EU-Mercosur agreement, as it will increase deforestation and environmental crimes in Mercosur countries and will erode existing environmental regulations, such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). It is a harmful agreement for workers, indigenous peoples and peasants on both sides of the Atlantic. It will undermine labour standards, foster the eviction of communities from their territories and increase unfair competition for European farmers. This agreement will also attempt against consumer's rights, as agribusinesses will have an expedite way to get agricultural products treated with banned agrochemicals banned in the EU.

Together with the rest of the members of the Handel Anders! Coalition– consisting of farmers’ as well as environmental organizations and labour unions - , we will reiterate today to the members of the Committee for Foreign Trade our rejection of this treaty, and will support them in the demand for the Dutch Government to adopt a position consistent with the majority opinion of the Parliament: reject this harmful trade agreement and build a new trade policy that benefits the planet and the peoples of Mercosur and the EU.

Stop EU-Mercosur! Reclaim trade policy for development and the environment.

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