8 March 2011

2 minute read

The move comes just before both sides are due to meet for negotiations in mid-March. In a letter sent to EU Commissioner Ciolos, Copa President Padraig Walshe and Cogeca President Paolo Bruni warned: “If trade is fully liberalised between the two sides, it is estimated to result in losses to the EU beef sector of as much as 25 billion euros. A deal would also increase price volatility and cause a huge rise in pork, poultry, maize, imports to the EU from these countries”.

Moreover, the study shows that Mercosur is producing the same agriculture goods that the EU produces and Mercosur is already a major exporter of agriculture and food products to the EU, with more than 90 per cent of our imports of beef meat coming from Mercosur.

With further liberalisation of trade with Mercosur, we will become more dependent on imports and the EUs’ food security will be increasingly affected by climatic conditions or political decisions on agriculture from these countries.

Copa-Cogeca warned that the study estimates that the economical losses would go beyond the CAP framework and would encourage the outsourcing of production for many products. On top of this, an agreement would double the level of carbon dioxide emissions, which runs counter to the EU’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and would make it difficult for the EU to meets its reduction targets. There are also still concerns about safety aspects of meat production in these countries such as traceability and the use of hormones in meat production.

Copa-Cogeca therefore vehemently opposes any new concessions to non-EU countries. After all, a vibrant EU agri-food sector should not sell itself to non-EU countries . The EU agri-food sector makes a crucial contribution to the EU 2020 strategy for growth and employment, at the same time as providing food security.

TheCattleSite News Desk