The European Union is planning to apply new restrictions to the treated food products with toxic pesticides prohibited in the block to address the complaints of farmers about the strictest standards they face in an increasingly competitive global market.
The European Commission, the executive arm of the block, “It will establish a principle according to which the most dangerous pesticides prohibited in the EU for health and environmental reasons will not be able to return to the EU through imported products”according to a document draft that will be published on Wednesday.
EU farmers have been protesting throughout Europe during the last year for the growing loads imposed by the climatic and environmental standards of the block. As a result, they have been fighting a commercial agreement signed with the Mercosur block (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay) due to lower requirements in those countries.
But this EU’s last plan runs the risk of causing a negative reaction from President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly accused the EU of treating the United States unfairly.
When asking for reciprocal tariffs to US business partners, the Trump administration specifically said that it planned to take into account non -tariff barriers to trade, that could include block regulations.
The EU has classified a small portion of pesticides as dangerous and He has prohibited them from environmental and health concerns.
The commission plans to avoid general prohibitions and proceed case by case when deciding on the use of toxic pesticides, Taking into account the realities of the market and the country of origin, as stated by an EU official.
To that end, this year will launch an impact evaluation to examine the effects of any decision on the competitive position of the EU and international implications, Including compliance with the norms of the World Trade Organization.
WTO allows adoption of autonomous measures if they are justified by a legitimate political objective, such as health or environmental reasons, but the consequences of EU’s norms abroad, in particular their ecological norms, They have been a reason for discord with third countries.
The Financial Times previously reported that the EU is trying to block imports of some foods, possibly including American crops such as soybeans. An EU official said that the proposal will not affect any product or country, and that the impact evaluation will take into account the strategic interests of the EU and its competitiveness.
The official said that could include the need to import proteins of plant origin, including soybeans, from countries like the United States, One of its main suppliers.
The block, however, wants to diversify its protein sources, currently very concentrated in exporters such as Argentina and Brazil, Because the units make “the food system vulnerable to fluctuations of the global market and the risks of sustainability,” according to the draft document.
In this sense, the Commission will prepare a plan to address these challenges and create “a more self -sufficient and sustainable EU protein system, diversifying imports at the same time,” according to the document. The draft is still subject to changes before its official publication.
