Romanian farmers' opinions on the Mercosur trade agreement are predominantly negative

Romanian farmers' opinions on the Mercosur trade agreement — concluded between the European Union and Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia — are predominantly negative. They believe that European countries with highly developed industrial and research sectors will be favored.

Farmers also say that imports from these countries do not guarantee lower prices on the shelves, but may bring in poor quality products due to standards that are far below those in the European Union.

RRA correspondent Mihai Badescu reports from Mehedinti County: "Farmers fear that the market will be flooded with products that do not meet European Union quality standards, brought in at low prices and which will compete unfairly with them.

-: We will not be able to keep up with the price of the products that will come, the raw materials that will come from Mercosur countries, and for us, the farmers in Romania, it will be a disaster. I believe that, in the end, we will close our doors, because we must take care to comply with European Union rules.
-: Basically, we believe that we will be a market for their products and, implicitly, I believe that Romanian farmers will suffer, especially in the livestock sector, and will no longer be able to sell their goods at a competitive price.
-: It is clear that this creates a context of unfair competition. Let me explain. We, the European Union, have the strictest conditions for the production of cereals and vegetables in the world, while other countries, such as those in South America, do not have the same conditions.

Experts believe that there is a risk for Romania to lose its status as a grain exporter.

Ilariana Jors, European funds consultant: Agriculture in Romania is already unstable, this agreement will destabilize it even more, and the countries that currently import from Romania will obviously turn to countries that produce more cheaply and do not have the same standards as us.

The Mercosur agreement must be voted on by the European Parliament after it is signed by the head of the European Commission and representatives of South American countries."

Translated by: Radu Matei