France's Environment Minister Elisabeth Borne said that France will not sign the EU-Mercosur farming deal struck between the European Union and the Mercosur countries under current conditions.
"We can't sign a trade treaty with a country that doesn't respect the Amazon forest, that doesn't respect the Paris (climate) treaty. France will not sign the Mercosur deal under these conditions," she explained.
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron voiced his opposition to the EU-Mercosur trade deal, citing what he alleged was Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's inability to address the fires and fight climate change.
The trade pact between the European Union and Mercosur bloc, which at the moment comprises Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, has been under negotiation for almost 20 years.
In late June, the blocs agreed on the terms of the deal with the aim of enhancing economic cooperation and boosting sustainable growth.