The guide to the EU-Mercosur agreement and women
Unsafe work, job loss and poverty – women in particular are negatively affected by the effects of neoliberal trade agreements. The agreement between the EU and Mercosur's four South American countries is a prime example of this. Lack of tax and customs revenue leads to reduced public revenue, resulting in cuts in the social sector, which mainly affects women. In addition, while trade agreements allow access to products at lower prices, they mainly promote export-oriented agriculture and large agricultural groups. This is particularly damaging for women smallholder farmers, who are exposed to increased competition and have to fear the loss of their livelihoods. In addition, many women in particular work in precarious sectors, such as the textile sector, which would be particularly affected by further market opening and job losses.
For more information on how and why the EU-Mercosur Agreement exacerbates social inequality between women and men, see the publication “Insecure Work, Job Loss and Poverty: The impact of the EU-Mercosur Agreement on women”, developed in cooperation with women scientists from Brazil and Argentina and the speech Brasileira Pela Integração dos Povos from Brazil and ATTAC Argentina.
