STATEMENT | 𝗘𝗨-𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗶𝗧𝗔)

Following the signing of the EU-Mercosur agreement on Saturday (17 January) in Asunción, Paraguay, the European Crop Care Association (ECCA) acknowledges the European Commission’s announcement of additional protective measures for sensitive agri-food sectors. These include calibrated tariff-rate quotas, a legally binding safeguard mechanism, enhanced import controls, actions to align production standards and the creation of a €6.3 billion Unity Safety Net fund from 2028.

ECCA recognises that these steps represent an effort to respond to stakeholder concerns. However, ECCA remains concerned that several fundamental shortcomings, which were highlighted by ECCA and other European agri-food organisations in December 2025, have not been fully resolved in the interim agreement.

Most importantly, the risk of unfair competition persists. Even with the new safeguards, less sustainable production systems abroad could still gain an advantage, while EU farmers continue to face economic, climatic and regulatory pressures. The impact of this imbalance could be felt particularly in member states such as Poland, which plays an increasingly important role in supporting agricultural output and driving economic growth across the EU.

We, the European Crop Care Association, therefore call on the European Commission to ensure that the announced protective measures are implemented transparently, monitored closely and strengthened where necessary, so that trade policy genuinely supports high standards, fair competition and the long-term resilience of European agriculture.