European farmers oppose EU-Australia free trade agreement

The EU’s largest agricultural associations, united in Copa Cogeca, are concerned about the EU-Australia free trade agreement, they say in a statement.

“Key agricultural sectors such as beef, lamb, sugar and rice are already under extreme pressure,” says Copa President Massimiliano Giansanti.

Copa Cogeca believes that even a small increase in market access could significantly destabilize EU markets, given the well-known vulnerabilities of these sectors.

The statement says that the EU is a consumer market of around 450 million people, while Australia’s domestic market is around 28 million. The market opening under the agreement is disproportionately beneficial to Australian exports, while “increasing competition for EU farmers in already fragile markets.”

Cogeca President Lennart Nilsson said that agriculture is once again being seen as a balancing variable that the European Commission relies on to conclude its trade agreements.

“Copa and Cogeca call on the European Commission to take full account of the sensitivities of these sectors and to ensure that any agreement between the EU and Australia is truly balanced for the agricultural sector, taking into account the cumulative pressures faced by EU farmers,” the association added.

Tags: protests, Australia, EU