In an attempt to calm anger and get the green light from France, the EU reveals guarantees for farmers under the agreement with Mercosur

The European Commission detailed this Wednesday the guarantees provided to farmers to try to reassure them about the impact of the trade agreement with the Latin American countries of Mercosur. Brussels announced these “safeguard measures” in early September, hoping to calm the profession’s anger and get the green light from France.

The Commission promises “reinforced control” of “sensitive products” such as beef, poultry, rice, honey, eggs, garlic, ethanol and sugar. It plans to transmit an evaluation of the impact of imports from Mercosur to the European States and Parliament every six months. In particular, Brussels would launch an investigation if the prices of a Mercosur product are at least 10% lower than those of an identical product from the European Union and the volume of duty-free imports increases by more than 10%.

In case of serious damage, the EU could temporarily increase customs taxes on affected products. The Commission also undertakes to launch an investigation without delay if a European State requests it and there is a sufficient risk of harm. In the “most urgent cases”, it promises to activate provisional safeguard measures in a maximum of 21 days and conclude investigations in four months.

“Force the passage”

When these safeguard measures were announced in early September, Paris welcomed a step in the right direction, without giving the green light. The European agricultural lobby, Copa-Cogeca, which brings together the majority unions, for its part, once again criticized the agreement with Mercosur and the “forceful movement” of the European Commission.

Brussels hopes to obtain approval from European states before the end of December, as long as Brazilian Lula holds the rotating presidency of Mercosur. This agreement should allow, in particular, the European Union to export more cars, machines, wines and spirits to Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. In exchange, it would facilitate the entry of meat, sugar, rice, honey or South American soybeans.

The safeguard measures proposed by the Commission will be presented to Member States and MEPs. And what do the Mercosur countries think? The European Commission limits itself to stating that it “has spoken periodically” with them.