Fairtrade is concerned that climate and biodiversity are not being accounted for in the European Union’s new trade agreement with Mercosur
Fairtrade International has reacted to the news that the European Commission has concluded EU-Mercosur trade deal negotiations, a deal that has been struck despite what it called ”massive public contestations” in countries from both the European Union and the Mercosur bloc.
In response, Fairtrade said there were many aspects of the deal that made it “apprehensive”.
”Based on a more than 20-year-old mandate, we are concerned that climate and biodiversity are not being accounted for and this would lead to more CO2 emissions and deforestation that would add to our planet’s climate crisis,” it stated.
”Moreover, the agreement offers no guarantee for living wages, fairer prices, and purchasing practices, and therefore expose small-scale farmers and workers to even greater precariousness in their lives.
”Fairtrade believes that living wages and living income are human rights, and essential to the realisation of all the Sustainable Development Goals,” Fairtrade International continued.
”For Fairtrade an open and fair trade system must include better prices, decent working conditions, and measures to protect our biodiversity and strengthen climate resilience.
“We won’t support a trade deal that is not a fair deal for farmers, workers, and the planet,” it added.
