Brazil signs letter against EU anti-deforestation law – 09/08/2023 – Market

Brazil and 16 other developing countries sent a letter to European authorities on Thursday (7) expressing “concerns” regarding the bloc’s so-called anti-deforestation law and asking for “effective dialogue” to be maintained with producing countries, the Ministry of Agriculture reported. Foreign Affairs this Friday (8) in a press release.

The joint letter from the 17 signatories was addressed to authorities such as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and is intended to “avoid ruptures in the trade and excessive burden on producers of agricultural goods and derivatives covered by the measure”, according to Itamaraty.

“We, the undersigned, wish to convey through this letter our deep concern regarding the recent entry into force of the European Union regulation on products free from deforestation (EUDR), on 29 June 2023,” the letter reads.

“…This legislation disregards local circumstances and capabilities, national legislation and the certification mechanisms of developing producing countries, as well as their efforts to combat deforestation and the commitments assumed in multilateral forums”, points out the document.

The letter also says that the norm establishes a unilateral risk assessment system that is “discriminatory and punitive” and that “it may be inconsistent with the obligations before the WTO”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated this Friday, in a press release, that Brazil maintains a “firm commitment” to combating deforestation.

In addition to Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic and Thailand signed the letter sent to European authorities.