Overview

• The European Commission proposed an EU regulation to monitor markets and swiftly suspend Mercosur tariff preferences if imports harm EU producers.
• It sets quantitative triggers for investigations, including at least a 10% year‑over‑year rise in preferential imports or import prices at least 10% below EU levels.
• Provisional safeguard measures could be imposed within 21 days, with final investigations targeted for completion within four months.
• The Commission would report to governments and the European Parliament every six months and focus on sensitive farm goods such as beef, poultry, pork, rice, honey, eggs, garlic, ethanol and sugar.
• The plan translates the pact’s safeguard clause into EU law and is part of efforts to address farm-sector concerns, with the Commission urging adoption before any signature or provisional application of the trade deal.