EU Details Fast-Track Safeguards to Shield Farmers in Mercosur Trade Deal

Overview

• Brussels set objective thresholds to open probes: a 10% undercut in import prices, a 10% jump in volumes, or a 10% drop in import prices versus the prior year.
• Investigations must conclude within four months, with provisional protection possible within 21 days when a member state requests action and grounds are found.
• The Commission will issue six‑monthly impact reports on sensitive goods such as beef, poultry, rice, honey, eggs, garlic, ethanol and sugar.
• If serious injury is determined, the EU could temporarily suspend preferential terms and reimpose tariffs on affected products.
• The safeguard regulation still needs approval by the Council and European Parliament, opposition from France and farm groups persists, and a French envoy says Paris wants a deal it can support as Brussels touts over €4 billion in annual tariff savings for EU exporters.