Brazil’s Congress increases pressure on France after Carrefour controversy

The Brazilian Congress has intensified pressure on Carrefour and the French government despite a formal apology from Alexandre Bompard, the CEO of the French retail giant. Mr. Bompard had previously questioned the quality standards of Mercosur meat and announced that Carrefour would cease purchasing products from the bloc.

On Wednesday (27), the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee approved a motion by Senator Tereza Cristina to invite French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain and Carrefour Brazil CEO Stéphane Maquaire to give explanations about the incident. The hearing date has yet to be set.

Tereza Cristina, a former agriculture minister, criticized Mr. Bompard’s apology as “insufficient” and noted that criticism of Brazilian products has escalated in France, including during a session of the French Parliament. She added that the Mercosur Parliament (Parlasul), composed of lawmakers from Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, is expected to issue a formal repudiation of their French counterparts during its December session.

“We need to hear an official position from France’s ambassador,” she said, also condemning comments by French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard, who linked Brazilian production practices to the use of hormones and antibiotics.

Senator Renan Calheiros, chair of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, called Mr. Bompard’s remarks “unfounded, offensive, and absurd.” He described the statements as a form of “commercial terrorism,” which he said ignited unnecessary tensions.

In the Lower House, the Agriculture Committee approved four motions addressing the controversy. One invites Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira to clarify Brazil’s official stance. Originally a summons, the motion was amended to an invitation following negotiations with the governing coalition. The committee also requested official information from Mr. Vieira on the issue.

Speaking on the EBC program “Bom Dia, Ministro,” Mr. Vieira downplayed the incident, noting that it involved a private-sector company. “From a government perspective, there hasn’t been a significant issue. From a business perspective, it’s been resolved with [Mr. Bompard] reaffirming the quality of Brazilian products,” Mr. Vieira said.

The Agriculture Committee also approved a motion to hold a public hearing on strategies to counter international protectionist measures and voted to issue a formal note condemning Carrefour’s decision to suspend Mercosur meat purchases in France.

Lawmakers across party lines presented a united front in defense of Brazil’s national production. “This is a commercial dispute. We must take a firm stance,” said Congressman Bohn Gass.

Congressman Evair de Melo, chair of the Agriculture Committee and author of three of the approved motions, said the incident was not an isolated case but part of a pattern of disguised trade barriers framed as sustainability concerns.

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By Rafael Walendorff , Globo Rural

Source: Valor International

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