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France Threatens to Scrap Trade Deal With South America Over Amazon Fires

VOA News

   France said Friday that it would block efforts to reach a major trade
   deal between theEuropean Union and Brazil in an escalation of tensions
   over fires ravaging the Amazon rainforest.

   Leading a growing wave of European anger, a French presidential
   statement said, "The decisions and statements from Brazil these recent
   weeks show clearly that President [Jair] Bolsonaro has decided to not
   respect his commitments on the climate, nor to involve himself on the
   issue of biodiversity.''

   As a result of Brazil's actions, the statement said, France now opposes
   an EU trade deal "in its current state" with the Mercosur bloc of South
   American nations, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and
   Uruguay.

   Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and British Prime Minister Boris
   Johnson said they supported France's stance, which cameahead of a Group
   of Seven (G-7) summit in France this weekend.

   Under increasing pressure about the wildfires, Brazil's president said
   Friday that he might send the military to battle the massive blazes.

   Bolsonaro did not say when the armed forces would get involved but
   suggested that action could be soon.

   Thousands of wildfires burning in the Amazon rainforest threaten to
   wipe out large parts of a vital ecosystem.

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