The EU Trade Commissioner urged the left-wing government led by Chile’s new President Gabriel Boric to sign an agreement with the country’s right-wing predecessor in negotiations with the European Union.

Valdis Donbrowskis told the Financial Times that he hopes that the new government, including the Communist Party, which will take office in March this year, will support the agreement. After France shelved the agreement, he also urged EU member states to do the same, which updated and deepened the 2002 agreement.

Eastbrovskys told the Financial Times: “We very much hope that the incoming Chilean government can support this modern agreement.”

“This is a good deal for Chile and the EU member states, and it promotes our mutual trade and conducts it in a sustainable manner-in fact, this is the most sustainable trade agreement we have made so far.

“Strately speaking, it also gives the EU more opportunities to obtain lithium, which will enhance our ability to produce batteries.”

He also warned the EU countries, which constitute the world’s largest trading bloc, against rising protectionism.

“We should not ignore the benefits that trade agreements bring to our economy, our businesses and workers, especially when we get rid of [Covid-19] Crisis,” he said.

France has persuaded the European Commission, which is negotiating such deals on behalf of the European Union, to postpone the deal with Chile and the negotiations with New Zealand. The diplomat said that President Emmanuel Macron will hold a general election in April and he is nervous about the reaction of French farmers to the import of cheap chicken from Chile. Chile will receive a duty-free quota of 18,000 tons of chicken meat-less than 0.2% of EU consumption.

Paris cited sustainability issues and agricultural sensitivity as reasons for opposition.

An agreement between the European Union and the South American trade group Mercosur was shelved because some countries wanted Brazil to make binding commitments to protect the Amazon rainforest.

Chile’s incoming President Borik is part of a broad left-wing coalition. His election ended three years of moderate centrist governments that attracted investment in today’s richest countries in Latin America.

Boric opposes some mining projects, which makes investors feel uneasy. However, he said in a meeting with diplomats in San Diego in October that the EU agreement is very important and that if elected, he will respect the outcome of the negotiations.

Rodrigo Yáñez, head of international economic relations at the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that 60% of the country’s economy relies on foreign trade, adding that any leader must prioritize international partnerships.

“The EU agreement is also the greenest agreement that Chile will have, and the environment is a key part [of Boric’s] Authorization,” Yanez, who participated in the EU negotiations, told the Financial Times.

Boric’s team plans to strengthen multilateralism, “has a Latin American mission, respect for human rights, international law, cooperation, international treaties and sustainability,” said Senator Juan Ignacio Latorre (Juan Ignacio Latorre). He served as spokesperson for foreign affairs during the Boric campaign.