Editorial: Liberation

• Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, faces the debate over the Mercosur treaty.
• The free trade agreement between Europe and five South American countries, including Brazil and Argentina, has sparked protests among French farmers.
• Farmers fear that reduced tariffs on beef and poultry could threaten French industries.
• The French government is opposed to the treaty in its current state.
• Despite opposition, some French industrial and agricultural sectors see opportunities in this agreement.
• The length of the debate, 20 years, and global changes such as environmental awareness, are valid reasons to oppose Mercosur.
• The current agreement seems outdated in the current global context.

Conclusion: Opposition to Mercosur has valid reasons, but it also shows some hypocrisy and electoral opportunism in some political actors. The world and its challenges have changed, and trade treaties need to adapt to this new context.

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