More pressure is set to be heaped on the EU Commission to abandon its controversial Mercosur trade deal after new data shows deforestation in Brazil has soared in July. More pressure is set to be heaped on the EU Commission to abandon its controversial Mercosur trade deal after new data shows deforestation in Brazil has soared in July. It comes as last month, the South American bloc Mercosur, which includes Brazil, reached a free trade deal with the European Union that includes environmental commitments. IFA President Joe Healy has accused the seven Prime Ministers who signed a letter to Jean Claude Juncker backing a trade deal with South American countries of making a mockery of European farmers and the world class standards they operate to. "This is breathtaking hypocrisy from the seven signatories who want a deal with President Bolsonaro from Brazil and other South American countries to suit their own economies, while conveniently ignoring the truth about Brazil," he said.

Source: Irish Independent July 19, 2019 05:03 UTC