EU-Mercosur trade deal dominates talk at Green Week

DW (English)

The EU-Mercosur trade agreement has been signed. But at Berlin's agricultural fair, not everyone is happy. Many German farmers fear increased competition from South America.

Transcript

00:00Christian Rolfink is an organic farmer near Rostock in northern Germany

00:04and he's presenting his cows at the Green Week Agricultural Fair.

00:09He has mixed feelings about the free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur countries.

00:14Among other things, the deal stipulates that the South American countries

00:18will be allowed to export almost 100,000 additional tons of beef to the EU annually.

00:23Basically, I'm a businessman and I'm happy when I can trade with many partners.

00:31And that's true even in these crazy political times

00:34when an agreement is reached that makes free trade possible.

00:38But, and here comes the big but, I'm a farmer and we produce the highest quality food here.

00:45And we adhere to the highest environmental and social standards.

00:50Our minimum wage is at 15 euros.

00:53And we have regulations regarding water protection, plant protection and also animal welfare.

01:02The problem is that high production standards in Germany make it impossible for farmers to be competitive.

01:10The EU Commission expects meat prices in European supermarkets to fall by no more than 2%

01:16after the agreement is signed.

01:18The consequences for European farmers would therefore be minimal

01:22and the representatives of the Mercosur countries also defend themselves.

01:26The agreement includes safeguards and also provides protection for European producers.

01:35The European and the South American control bodies are jointly responsible

01:40for ensuring that both sides benefit.

01:42It's also an opportunity for European producers of, for example, wine, cheese,

01:56and so many other European products that we Brazilians love and eat and enjoy

02:01and we'll be able to get them more easily here.

02:04The European Union has established a kind of safety net.

02:15All imports must continue to comply with strict EU rules.

02:19Should import volumes exceed the agreed limits, EU countries can impose an import ban.

02:24Furthermore, 45 billion euros in additional financial aid have been made available.

02:30Still, many farmers want more.

02:32We want proof that the farmers, our colleagues in South America, are monitored the same way

02:38and produced under the same social and environmental standards as we do.

02:43The mood among farmers at the Green Week is still upbeat, but, of course, the agreement is not yet in force.

02:52It still needs to be ratified by the European Parliament and those of the Mercosur countries.

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