Lula: South America cannot be blamed if the FTA fails. Gunmen attack mine in Peru – killing nine

Shortly before the German-Brazilian government talks, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva discussed the possible failure of talks on a European-South American free trade agreement – and indirectly blamed Europe for it. If there is no agreement, no one can say that Brazil or South America are to blame, Lula said on Sunday at the World Climate Conference (COP28) in Dubai.

Shortly afterwards he traveled to Berlin. The governments of Germany and Brazil will meet there for the first time on Monday after an eight-year break for extensive discussions on their cooperation. Above all, it probably concerns the planned free trade agreement between the South American economic community Mercosur and the EU.

The agreement would create one of the largest free trade zones in the world with more than 700 million inhabitants. The EU’s discussions on this matter with the four Mercosur states of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay have been going on for more than twenty years. However, a fundamental agreement from 2019 will not be implemented due to ongoing concerns – for example over the protection of rainforests. The German economy demands a quick conclusion and is counting on progress at the German-Brazilian Economic Forum, also on Monday in Berlin, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Lula.

However, during COP28, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke out against the agreement. This does not take biodiversity and the climate into account, he said on Saturday.

“If there is no agreement, it will at least be clear who is to blame,” Lula said on Sunday. The rich countries did not want to make any concessions, they just wanted to earn more. Turning to the South American states, he emphasized: “What we want is a certain balance.” (sda/dpa)