Exporting worth, importing dependency
11 December 2024
3 minute learn
The European Fee has now formally signed the long-debated Mercosur Free Commerce Settlement, sparking critical considerations throughout the agricultural sector. Whereas heralded as a landmark for commerce, this deal comes with vital dangers for European agriculture, meals safety and sustainability, warned AVEC, the lobbyist group that helps Europe’s poultry meat sector.
Exporting worth, importing dependency
The brand new settlement prioritises the export of processed agri-food merchandise whereas importing uncooked supplies, thus exposing the EU to nice dependency on Mercosur nations for important agricultural items (equivalent to sugar, beef, rice, poultry) and probably sacrificing the established European excessive requirements our producers have fought for and our residents count on.
“The EU-Mercosur settlement isn’t only a commerce deal, it’s a trade-off,” stated Birthe Steenberg, secretary basic of AVEC. ”By favouring short-term export positive factors, the EU places our strategic autonomy in agriculture on the road, undermines EU farmers and, finally, jeopardises its long-term sovereignty.”
A blow to EU poultry meat manufacturing
The proposed further quota of 180,000 tons from Mercosur equates to manufacturing ranges of nations like Finland, Sweden, and Denmark mixed. In complete, cumulating present imports and Mercosur quota, we’d import 1.1 million tons of poultry meat into the EU, representing 9% of the EU’s poultry meat consumption. It is a sizeable quantity, and it comes at a time when commerce offers are below renegotiation with Ukraine and Thailand, that are additionally vital poultry exporters.
Poultry imports below the Mercosur settlement disproportionately goal a few of the most beneficial and in-demand cuts for European customers, equivalent to rooster breasts. Since EU producers depend on breast meat gross sales to justify elevating chickens, every two filets imported from overseas signify one rooster not raised within the EU.
Already 25% of breast meat consumed within the EU comes from non-EU nations (equivalent to Brazil, Thailand, Ukraine, and China).
Sacrificing requirements and sustainability
EU producers adhere to a few of the world’s highest requirements for animal welfare, environmental safety, and meals security, and make investments closely in sustainable practices. Whereas the EU continues to implement stricter rules to reinforce sustainability and animal welfare – thus making native manufacturing more and more costly – European farmers face rising competitors from imports produced below far decrease necessities.
Latest audits by DG SANTE have revealed systemic points in Brazil’s compliance with EU requirements, together with meals security breaches and poor animal well being practices. The Mercosur deal highlights a obtrusive disparity.
“If adhering to the EU’s exemplary requirements finally results in our producers being outcompeted by much less sustainable imports, what’s the level of setting such benchmarks with out making certain reciprocity and truthful commerce situations?” Steenberg stated.
In accordance with AVEC, the Mercosur settlement will have devastating penalties for European meals safety, sustainability, farmers and customers alike. AVEC urges EU policymakers in Council and the European Parliament to oppose this deal. Extra importantly, AVEC advises policymakers to keep away from by any means letting the Fee break up the settlement, and subsequently permitting quick monitor approval, stating that it might forestall a good democratic course of to happen for the adoption of the settlement, particularly when nations like Poland and France have formally expressed their opposition to the settlement.
The EU should lead by instance, uphold its values – each at residence and overseas – and prioritise its farmers, its customers, and its future, AVEC stated in its assertion.
“The EU-Mercosur commerce deal, because it stands, will not be the lifeline we want,” Steenberg concluded. “It’s a dangerous gamble we are able to’t afford.”
