After years of negotiations, the EU and a group of four South American countries have finalized a free trade agreement that could unlock new export opportunities for dairy products.

The agreement was unveiled on Friday, December 6, during a press conference between the EU and the four Mercosur countries: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Since then, media outlets have been analyzing and debating the deal’s potential advantages and drawbacks.

According to Landbrug & Fødevarer (the Danish Agriculture & Food Council), as reported on Afriwatch.dk:
“On the meat side, there are several challenges in the Mercosur agreement, while dairy products could gain new export opportunities.”

However, the deal has faced considerable scepticism in several EU countries, particularly in France, where concerns about its impact on agriculture have been strongly voiced.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has addressed and defended the agreement in an op-ed on Altinget.dk:

• The deal we have now reached provides the strongest protection ever in a trade agreement. It safeguards our most important economic sectors, including agriculture and food production, she writes.
• It protects our consumers by ensuring the enforcement of high standards. And it prioritizes the protection of our planet and its green lungs.

Von der Leyen also emphasized that this is the most comprehensive agreement ever negotiated to protect European food and beverage products. Over 350 European products will be safeguarded under a geographical indication scheme:

• This means it will become illegal to sell imitations or counterfeits. For example, no more ‘Danablu-like cheese’ will be sold in Mercosur supermarkets—only the genuine product made in Denmark. And for the first time ever, European inspectors will have the authority to monitor and stop such practices.

Read Ursula von der Leyen’s full op-ed on Altinget HERE

Photo: Dati Bendo /  EU- kommissionen