Reports this week that forest fires in the Amazon increased 17%, while news, it is not new news. It comes on top of the news as reported by this newspaper three weeks ago that at least 17% of beef and 20% of soy exported to the EU from certain areas of Brazil may be related to illegal deforestation. A binding commitment in the Mercosur deal means that Brazil must have zero illegal deforestation and restoring and planting 12m hectares of trees at 1m hectares annually by 2030.

You really would have to wonder how much longer the Mercosur deal can last.