Carrefour bans South American beef amid French farmer protests

In Brazil, Carrefour's support for protests by French farmers against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement has resulted in significant backlash from the Brazilian agricultural sector. Following Carrefour's CEO Alexandre Bompard's announcement that the company would cease purchases of beef from Mercosur countries, Brazilian meatpackers, including JBS and Marfrig, responded by halting their beef supplies to Carrefour stores nationwide. Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro, supported the meatpackers' boycott, stating that if Brazilian beef was deemed insufficient for Carrefour in France, it should not be considered adequate for Brazilian customers either. Carrefour has publicly acknowledged the boycott and noted that while there is no current shortage of beef in its stores, the company is seeking ways to resolve the supply issues while maintaining its commitments to its employees and customers. This conflict arises against the backdrop of the EU-Mercosur trade deal, which threatens to increase agricultural imports from South America, raising concerns among European farmers about the potential negative impact on their livelihoods, leading to their protests and Carrefour's subsequent actions.