Olivier Leducq warns of significant impacts on the sugar and ethanol sectors
The CEO of the French sugar and ethanol group Tereos, Olivier Leducq, has voiced opposition to the approval of the trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur in its current form. He stated that the agreement would have significant impacts on the sugar and ethanol sectors.
“At a time when our cooperative members are focused on implementing regenerative agricultural practices, how can our farms compete with imported products that do not adhere to the same environmental and social standards?” Leducq questioned in a LinkedIn post. According to him, there are major concerns about the future of French farmers if the agreement is ratified as it stands. “We are firmly against the signing of the Mercosur agreement in its current state,” he added.
Leducq emphasized that French agricultural production must remain competitive amidst current agronomic and environmental challenges while gradually adopting low-carbon farming practices. “The EU-Mercosur agreement, as it stands today, jeopardizes this ambition.”
Tereos Açúcar & Energia Brasil, a subsidiary of the French group, issued a statement clarifying that the global president’s remarks referred exclusively to the need for deeper discussions about regulatory differences that affect economic competitiveness between the two trading blocs.
“Under no circumstances does this imply questioning the quality of products or the commitment of Brazil and Mercosur to sustainable practices,” the statement noted. It also highlighted Tereos’ pride in its Brazilian operations, where over 60% of production is exported, supported by strict international quality and socio-environmental sustainability certifications.
France remains the primary source of resistance to the approval of the Mercosur-EU agreement, citing potential negative impacts on its rural producers. Speaking to Valor, Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro, expressed optimism that the agreement would be announced during the Mercosur summit, scheduled for December 5–6 in Uruguay.
