Commission promises to defend farmers in the Mercosur agreement
BRUSSELS – The European Commission promised today that it will protect farmers from disruptions caused by the agreement with Mercosur, anticipating an annual increase in exports to those Latin American countries of 39%, an additional 49 billion euros.
According to the information provided today by the community executive, regarding the proposals it will present to the Council of the European Union (EU) for discussion and further consideration, the agreement with the Mercosur countries is expected to increase the EU’s annual exports by 39%, amounting to an additional 49 billion euros.
The agreement that will create “the largest free trade area in the world” will reduce “customs duties that are often prohibitive for EU exports,” including on “essential industrial products, such as cars (currently at 35%), machinery (between 14% and 20%), and pharmaceuticals (up to 14%).”
The European Commission forecasts that agri-food exports “will grow by at least 50%” with the tariff reduction, particularly in wine and spirits, chocolate, and olive oil, preventing imitation and “unfair competition” of 344 products with geographical indication protection.
But the main novelty that the European Commission wanted to present was the safeguards, specifically for the agricultural sector, the main critic of this agreement.
“We listened to them, this agreement is a new Mercosur agreement, we heard from all the people who wanted this agreement, from our partners in Mercosur to our Member States, and representatives of the agricultural sector, to ensure that the agreement is good and fair,” said the European Commissioner for Trade, Maros Sefcovic, at a press conference in Brussels, promising “strong safeguards.”
The safeguards, according to the community executive, will protect producers from “a harmful increase in imports” from the Mercosur countries – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. (03/09/25)
