EU officials reject changes to anti-deforestation law

According to Reuters, the EU hopes to conclude a trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc (the Southern Common Market) by the end of this year, though some outstanding disagreements remain.

In an interview on the sidelines of last week's G20 Summit in Brazil, Janez Lenarcic, the EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, acknowledged that the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has been a point of contention. He confirmed that the regulation would not change, although its implementation might be delayed by a year.

The Mercosur bloc, which comprises Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia, represents an attractive market for EU exporters.

“The European Union is eager to finalize this agreement,” Mr. Lenarcic stated, noting that the EUDR has influenced negotiations, particularly with Brazil.

Recently, the European Commission and EU ambassadors agreed to delay implementing the anti-deforestation law, following pressure from several member states and key agricultural exporters such as Brazil.

Mr. Lenarcic clarified that the EU has considered calls for a delay but ultimately decided that the regulation itself would remain unchanged.

On November 4, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña expressed doubts about the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between Mercosur and the EU. After more than 20 years of discussions, the two sides have yet to finalize the FTA due to new environmental requirements from the EU.

According to Brazil’s Foreign Ministry, Mercosur representatives will continue negotiations with the EU in November, with hopes of reaching an agreement before December.

Vietnamese coffee industry ready to meet EUDR standards

According to the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (VICOFA), the Vietnamese coffee industry is prepared to comply with EU regulations. VICOFA closely collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and international organizations to assist businesses in meeting EUDR standards in line with the Ministry’s action framework.