Brazilian President Luiz Ignácio Lula da Silva has said that France is not in a position to block the European Union's free trade agreement with Mercosur, as the European Commission takes the decision.

„If the French do not want an agreement, they will not decide. The European Commission will decide," the Brazilian president told AFP.

He said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has the mandate to sign the agreement „and I intend to sign it later this year“.

French, Polish and Italian farmers are protesting against the agreement for a second week.

In addition, Alexandre Bompard, head of the French retailer „Carrefour“, said that in solidarity with French farmers, the retailer would not sell meat from Mercosur countries. In response, Brazilian wholesalers have suspended deliveries to „Carrefour“ stores in Brazil.

„Agrobite“ recalls that last Thursday the French Senate voted down the free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American countries „Mercosur“. A similar vote had taken place in the National Assembly the previous day, which had also rejected the agreement. According to the farmers, this agreement, if implemented, will have disastrous competitive consequences for Europeans.