Speaking at the event which was hosted by MEP Sofia Ribeiro (EPP) from Portugal and MEP Daniel Caspary (EPP) from Germany, Copa and Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen said “We are keen to find new market outlets for our produce, which can be ensured via bilateral trade agreements. In this respect, Japan should be the number one priority. But unfortunately, we don’t see that the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) which are being negotiated may compensate for the concessions made in the potential trade deal with Mercosur”.
“We need fair and balanced deals on agriculture in any trade agreement. The Mercosur trade deal will have a negative impact on EU agriculture as the agriculture sector in Mercosur countries produces the same product that the EU produces. A study by the EU Commission’s Directorate-General for agriculture clearly shows that a classical approach in terms of protecting the most sensitive agricultural products from tariff cuts will not be enough to mitigate the trade impact”, he added.
“Moreover, we have some of the highest food safety and animal welfare standards in the world. Imports to the EU must meet our standards, otherwise our safety standards will be compromised. EU farmers and cooperatives are committed to having high EU production standards which in the case of beef provide full individual traceability of cattle throughout the animals lifetime. This is the only way to ensure the proper implementation of food safety standards. Copa and Cogeca refuse to allow double standards in food safety for meat to be applied vis a vis imports to the EU single market. Fair rules should be settled first before tackling tariffs”, he stressed.
This was supported by MEP Sofia Ribeiro (EPP) at the event who said “I am of the opinion that trade agreements in the field of agriculture must meet certain criteria, in particular food safety for products entering the European Union, as well as conditions of fairness in relation to their mode of production, protecting European farmers from unfair competition. We cannot accept to trade products in Europe that don't have the same European equivalent demands in their country of origin. The traceability of products entering Europe, throughout its life cycle, is fundamental and it is important to safeguard in this agreement”.
“Agriculture cannot be always the poor relative of trade agreements, the weakest link. We cannot continue to use this important European sector as the bargaining chip for other areas. This agreement has to be ambitious in defending European farmers", she concluded.
