Notícias
Press Release n.149
European Union draft regulation on agricultural commodity imports
The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been closely following the evolution of legislative initiatives that, under the pretext of fighting deforestation, establish requirements for the importation of agricultural commodities by the European Union.
On September 13, the European Parliament approved, with amendments, a European Commission project that imposes due diligence mechanisms on the private sector to prevent the import of products allegedly associated with deforestation.
The matter approved in the European Parliament must still be examined jointly by the European Commission, the European Council, and the European Parliament.
The Brazilian government has conveyed to the European Commission, on more than one occasion, its views and concerns on the subject.
Brazil is concerned that the legitimate imperative of protecting the environment may serve as a pretext for establishing legislation that imposes unilateral, extraterritorial, and discriminatory measures restricting international trade, particularly to the detriment of developing countries.
At a time when the world is still recovering from the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and facing the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine, the adoption of restrictive measures on trade in food and agricultural products is globally undermining the resumption of economic growth, the fight against the food insecurity crisis, and the functioning of a rules-based, market-oriented international trading system.
Brazil is confident that the bill will not unduly discriminate against Brazilian agricultural products and their by-products, nor violate World Trade Organization rules.
The Brazilian Government remains open to maintaining a constructive dialogue based on international law with the European Union authorities in this regard.