The agriculture ministers from several EU countries expressed their concern in Brussels on Tuesday 18 July at the direction the EU-Mercosur trade negotiations are taking (see other article).
The Council discussed international trade negotiations (EU-Japan agreement in principle, talks with Mercosur, Mexico, the Philippines and Indonesia, and forthcoming negotiations with Australia and New Zealand). Several delegations again called for the member states to be more closely involved in the talks.
With regard to the talks with Mercosur, Ireland called for care to be shown on beef. Poland spoke of removing sensitive products, Belgium said care must be taken on beef and sugar, and France highlighted beef and ethanol and stressed the need for there to be reciprocity in trade agreements. Greece raised wine and Austria animal welfare.
Most ministers backed the agreement in principle between the EU and Japan on a free-trade agreement.
WTO negotiations. Several agriculture ministers (including those of France, Spain, Hungary, Poland, Belgium, Italy and Slovakia) called on the Commission to ensure that the decisions that could be taken at the next WTO ministerial conference do not prejudice the debate on the new CAP.
“The Commission will ensure that no commitment is made that will require any changes to the current CAP”, stated European Commissioner Phil Hogan. He sought to reassure the ministers after the EU and Brazil, two of the world’s biggest agricultural producers, tabled a joint proposal for reforming domestic support (see EUROPE 11831). Several ministers fear decisions that call into question the coupled aid on the “blue box” (aid linked to supply control schemes that are exempted from reduction commitments). The orange, blue and green boxes form part of the domestic support chapter of the WTO’s 1994 agreement on agriculture.
Brexit. Slovakia called for a Commission impact study on the effects of Brexit (withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU) on free-trade agreements between the EU and third countries. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)