The European Commission (EC) proposed this week new safeguards to try to reassure European Union (EU) farmers and ranchers amid fears about the potential effects of products imported from Latin America, based on increased surveillance and a rapid response to increased imports or falling prices.
"The proposal provides additional guarantees to European farmers beyond the quotas already agreed upon with MERCOSUR," the Commission explained in a statement dated October 7, 2025. Sensitive products include beef, chicken, rice, honey, eggs, garlic, ethanol, and sugar.
These measures are part of the EU-MERCOSUR Association Agreement (EMPA), a trade agreement between the European Union and the MERCOSUR countries—Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—which aims to promote trade between the two regions while ensuring the protection of European producers from negative trade impacts.
Among the measures They stand out:
- Reinforced monitoring: “Semi-annual reports will be sent to the Council and the European Parliament to identify risks in a timely manner.”
- Clear triggers: An investigation will be conducted to determine whether import prices are at least 10% lower than European prices or whether imports are growing by more than 10%.
- Fast answer: “Provisional measures in 21 days and resolution of investigations in four months.”
According to the EC, this "will allow any risks to be identified at an early stage and swift action to be taken to remedy any potential negative impacts." These reports will cover the EU market and, where appropriate, also the specific situation of one or more Member States.
In this context, the Commission explained that these safeguards “translate the EMPA clause into a binding and immediately enforceable rule” and that the proposed Regulation will now be examined by the European Parliament and the Council within the framework of the ordinary legislative procedure.
In addition, the Commission is moving forward with Complementary initiatives to align production standards on pesticides and animal welfare, strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary controls, and ensure stable incomes for farmers through the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), with a budget of at least €300.000 billion and a new €6.300 billion agricultural security fund.
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