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The
deal, which is now before the European Court of Justice, has
faced opposition from European farmers and environmental groups
worried about unfair competition, threats to their livelihoods,
price pressures and environmental standards.
A statement from Brazil's agriculture ministry said Europe's
decision was received “with surprise," adding that the South
American country's government will try to reverse it. Brazilian
media said the EU claimed it had not received proof that animal
products from Brazil and other countries were free of
antimicrobial substances used to stimulate animal growth.
Brazil's head of mission at the EU will meet the bloc's
authorities on animal products on Wednesday "to seek
explanations about the decision,” the ministry said.
According to the Brazilian government's association for animal
products, EU countries were the third biggest destination for
Brazil's beef in 2025, after the United States and China.
The EU-Mercosur free trade agreement came into force on May 1.
It was signed Jan. 17 at a meeting of the South American group,
which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s has
provisionally enacted the deal, effectively sidestepping the EU
Parliament where the agreement is now being challenged by EU
lawmakers at the bloc’s judiciary. The agreement will be halted
if the European body rules against it.
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