The Belgian Federation of Farmers (Fugea) has again opposed the free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) in a statement on Tuesday.
The agreement aims to promote trade between the two continents by reducing tariffs and technical barriers. However, it would also allow beef from these South American countries to be imported into the EU. The deal could be finalised during the G20 summit on 18 and 19 November in Brazil.
After a year marked by economic difficulties, heavy rains, and bluetongue disease, “farmers are disgusted by the actions of the European Commission.”
“These imports are unfair competition for our breeders. The standards are significantly lower, the meat is cheap, and it drives market prices down,” the federation stated, noting that Mercosur countries already export between 215,000 and 250,000 tonnes of meat to Europe each year.
Farmers also decry the “schizophrenic inconsistencies” of the EU. “Industrial meat production in Brazil is responsible for massive deforestation. Supporting its development means contributing to this environmental destruction,” which contradicts the “ambitions of the Green Deal and the strategic dialogue on agriculture.”
To mitigate the impact, some political leaders are now advocating for European livestock farmers to be compensated. But this is something that Fugea also contests: “We need fair prices, not new compensatory aids […] Our farmers are not adjustment variables to be bought or sold,” the organisation said.
To confront the European Commission and halt the negotiations, the federation plans another protest in Brussels ahead of the G20 summit. They also call on Walloon Agriculture Minister Anne-Catherine Dalcq and Federal Agriculture Minister David Clarinval to publicly oppose the agreement.
