On Thursday 28 November in Strasbourg, the European Parliament called for rapid support for EU farmers penalised by US sanctions (see EUROPE 12378/4).
After a World Trade Organization (WTO) decision on Airbus subsidies, the United States was allowed to levy tariffs of up to 25% on a large number of agricultural products, such as French wines, Italian cheeses and Spanish olive oil.
By adopting a joint resolution by the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe and ECR groups on measures to address the consequences for European agriculture of the WTO decision on Airbus, Parliament expresses its “deep concern” at the collateral damage affecting the entire chain of the European agri-food sector caused by US countermeasures.
The Commission is invited to closely monitor the European agri-food market in order to “detect, in a timely manner, disturbances arising from the application of the tariffs”. The Commission is asked to “mobilise rapid support for the sectors worst affected” and to consider the use of market tools (private storage schemes and market withdrawal).
To help diversify EU export markets, all obstacles that prevent exporters from maximising the opportunities offered by EU trade agreements should be removed, say MEPs.
Parliament calls on the Commission to continue trying to find negotiated solutions to dilute the current trade tensions between the two parties.
“We must work towards the rapid de-escalation of sanctions and trade tensions and the Commission must be ready to mobilise all the tools at its disposal to help our sectors diversify their markets or strengthen their presence on the American market”, commented Anne Sander MEP (EPP, France).
In particular, the European Federation of Origin Wines (EFOW) has requested that Member States be able to release promotional funds for affected wines. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)