As negotiations drag on to form a trade deal between the EU and Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), a delegation of around 400 Belgian business people and academics, as well as Princess Astrid, are due to visit Brazil next week.
The delegation of around 170 companies and an academic team are heading on an economic mission to Brazil from 23 to 30 November to strengthen ties with the world's ninth largest economy.
Prominent Belgian businesses such as chemical company Solvay and pharmaceutical company UCB (who are already established in Brazil) will showcase their achievements during this visit. The delegation is due to stop in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the country's two main economic hubs.
EU-Mercosur deal close to being signed
The visit comes as the proposed EU-Mercosur trade deal is being strongly opposed by certain groups, including farmers concerned about an influx of Brazilian produce to European markets.
The EU-Mercosur deal would remove tariffs on most products between the two regions. The European Commission has pitched the agreement as a "win-win for both the EU and Mercosur, creating opportunities for growth, jobs and sustainable development on both sides."
After more than 20 years of negotiations, policymakers on both sides are pushing to get the EU-Mercosur deal signed, although there has been strong opposition from countries such as France, where there have been nationwide farmer protests.
Last week, Belgian farmers also protested against the deal, gathering in front of the European Commission's headquarters in Brussels.
EU farmers are concerned about more agricultural products being imported from Mercosur to the EU, particularly beef. They fear that cheap products – which are not subject to the same requirements as those imposed on European producers – will flood the European market and create unfair competition.
The Belgian Government has said it will not sign the EU-Mercosur agreement without strict "mirror clauses" to ensure identical production standards on both sides.
Brazil 'key destination' for Belgian business
Despite Europe's long-standing efforts to establish an agreement with the Mercosur bloc, Brazil remains a key business destination for Belgian enterprises.
Belgium excels in pharmaceutical exports to Brazil, ranking third after the US and Germany, and imports significant amounts of Brazilian agrifood products, including coffee and orange juice.
Belgian products such as fries and processed fruits and vegetables also have a presence in Brazil, and producers of chocolates, waffles, and gingerbread aim to attract new customers.
The visit to Brazil will be the first for Princess Astrid, although her brother King Philippe has made three similar trips to Brazil in 1999, 2005, and 2010.
