Farmers in EU raise alarm over Mercosur, Ukraine trade deals
PARIS/MADRID (Reuters) -French and Spanish farmers warned on Wednesday that a flood of imports under planned European Union trade agreements with South American bloc Mercosur and Ukraine risked severely undermining European agriculture.
The concerns come ahead of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's official visit to France and the expiry on Thursday of a free trade deal with Ukraine, which is expected to shift to import quotas this summer.
Lula said on Tuesday he would discuss the EU-Mercosur deal with President Emmanuel Macron, a strong critic of the agreement in its current form, which was finalised in December but still needs approval from member states.
In a meeting with members of parliament, French farmers' groups urged Macron to rally enough partners to form a blocking minority against the Mercosur deal, which they say would be devastating for the beef, poultry and sugar industries and compromise the EU's ambitions in terms of food sovereignty.
"It would be a real tragedy for our industry," Alain Carre, head of French sugar industry group AIBS said. "We're sounding the alarm."
French farmers held nationwide protests last year over low incomes, rising costs, and competition from cheap imports, particularly from Ukraine and Mercosur countries, demanding fairer trade terms and lighter regulation.
"Our demands (for an EU-Mercosur agreement) are simple: reciprocity of rules, traceability abroad and much clearer labelling," Jean-Michel Schaeffer, head of French poultry industry group Anvol, said.
Meanwhile, a few hundred farmers protested in Madrid against cheap grain imports from Ukraine and other countries, saying prices have fallen below production costs.
Spanish farmers are likely to lose 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) this year, said Javier Fatas, a leader of farmers union COAG from the Aragon region in northeastern Spain.
"This happens because of trade deals signed by Spain and the EU as part of geopolitics, bringing us prices too low to sustain our farms," Fatas said.
He warned that genetically modified grains from Mercosur also created unfair competition, echoing French farmers' concerns.
Wednesday's protest was peaceful, but only the beginning, he added. "Bad times are coming."
Here are the main EU import quotas for Mercosur products in the agreement:
Product Quota Volume Tariff / Note
Beef 99,000 t 7.5% tariff
Poultry 180,000 t 0%, phased in over 5 years
Pork 25,000 t 83 euros/tonne
Sugar 190,000 t 0%
Corn (Maize) 1,000,000 t 0%, phased in
Industrial 450,000 t 0%
Ethanol
Fuel Ethanol 200,000 t One-third of MFN tariff
Rice 60,000 t 0%
Honey 45,000 t 0%
($1 = 0.8770 euros)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
32 minutes ago
- New York Post
Trump praises DeSantis, rates once-frosty relations now ‘10 out of 10 — maybe 9.9'
President Trump raved Tuesday about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis – trading the ruthless personal attacks he leveled at him in last year's race for kinder words during a tour of the Everglades' 'Alligator Alcatraz.' 'Ten out of 10 – maybe 9.9,' the president said of the pair's current relationship while touring the new facility that will soon be used for deportations. DeSantis, who the president branded 'DeSanctimonious' during the bitter 2024 GOP presidential primary contest, greeted Trump in jeans and a blazer on the tarmac of the new facility designed to encourage 'self-deportation' because of its unpleasant swampy setting. Advertisement 6 President Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis interacted warmly Tuesday. REUTERS 6 The two Republican leaders, who clashed in the 2024 presidential primary election, were inaugurating the 'Alligator Alcatraz' facility in the Everglades for migrants. REUTERS 'As you know, Ron and I have had a really great relationship,' Trump said at a roundtable event inside the new detention facility. Advertisement 'We had a little off period for a couple of days,' the president added jokingly — referring to the months of mud-flinging between Trump, 79, and DeSantis, 46, who unsuccessfully argued it was time to turn the page on the then-ex-president. Trump and DeSantis met in spring 2024 after the governor's blowout loss in the GOP primaries and have golfed and interacted in passing at a White House event, but Tuesday marked their most protracted public engagement. 6 The governor encouraged other states to help the feds open more migrant detention centers. AFP via Getty Images 6 DeSantis awaits Trump's disembarkation from Air Force One. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement DeSantis and Trump interacted warmly as another potential clash takes shape ahead of next year's gubernatorial election, in which term-limited DeSantis has floated his wife Casey as his potential successor while many of Trump's supporters are lining up behind Rep. Bryon Donalds. Trump did not answer Tuesday when a reporter asked if he would back Casey DeSantis for governor. 6 An alligator floats near the detention camp. REUTERS 6 Trump tours the facility with DeSantis and Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem. REUTERS Advertisement The 'Alligator Alcatraz' facilities features large heavy-duty tents, with dog-kennel-style chain-link fence partitions separating pods of bunk beds. DeSantis encouraged other states to create equally imposing facilities for migrants and gushed about the Sunshine State's rush opening, likening it to his COVID-19 management and saying it was 'like the monoclonal antibodies thing on steroids.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
5 Insightful Analyst Questions From Keysight's Q1 Earnings Call
Keysight's first quarter results came in ahead of Wall Street's revenue and profit expectations, reflecting steady demand across its core markets. Management credited the performance to strong order growth in the Communications Solutions Group, particularly from data center infrastructure and wireline network customers, as well as stabilization in the Electronic Industrial Solutions Group. CEO Satish Dhanasekaran highlighted that 'R&D investments in 1.6 terabyte electrical and optical technologies, as well as expansion of new protocols in AI data center networks, are fueling demand,' emphasizing a technology-driven recovery. Is now the time to buy KEYS? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $1.31 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.28 billion (7.4% year-on-year growth, 1.8% beat) Adjusted EPS: $1.70 vs analyst estimates of $1.65 (3.3% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $361.4 million vs analyst estimates of $352.5 million (27.7% margin, 2.5% beat) Revenue Guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $1.32 billion at the midpoint, above analyst estimates of $1.30 billion Adjusted EPS guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $1.66 at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $1.69 Operating Margin: 15.8%, up from 14.6% in the same quarter last year Backlog: $2.35 billion at quarter end, up 4.3% year on year Market Capitalization: $28.28 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Tim Long (Barclays) asked about the significance of AI-related activity and pipeline visibility for the second half. CEO Satish Dhanasekaran said AI is a long-term opportunity, with double-digit wireline growth and a solid project pipeline supporting their outlook. Matt Niknam (Deutsche Bank) sought clarity on the sources of improved guidance and strong cash flow. Dhanasekaran attributed the higher outlook to order momentum and backlog, while CFO Neil Dougherty noted working capital improvements and a one-time gain on a currency hedge. Mark Delaney (Goldman Sachs) questioned the magnitude and mitigation of tariff exposure. Dougherty explained the $75–100 million annualized gross impact would be gradually offset by supply chain changes and price adjustments, with full mitigation by next year. Aaron Rakers (Wells Fargo) inquired about incremental operating margins above 5% revenue growth and the wireless business's sustainability. Dougherty reiterated the 40% incremental margin target, noting tariffs as a temporary drag, while Dhanasekaran highlighted stronger infrastructure demand in wireless. Meta Marshall (Morgan Stanley) asked about defense order trends and China's tariff exposure. Dhanasekaran said U.S. and European defense orders grew despite government budget constraints, while Dougherty estimated China-related tariff exposure at less than 10% of the total. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will closely monitor (1) the pace of AI-driven demand and adoption of new networking standards, (2) the effectiveness and timing of Keysight's tariff mitigation initiatives, and (3) continued growth in software and simulation revenue as a share of the total business. Updates on regulatory approvals and integration for pending acquisitions will also be key factors to watch. Keysight currently trades at $164.69, up from $162.51 just before the earnings. At this price, is it a buy or sell? Find out in our full research report (it's free). The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
Axios
an hour ago
- Axios
Judge orders detained journalist to be released from ICE custody
A judge has ordered the release of a metro Atlanta journalist who was arrested last month while covering a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. Why it matters: Mario Guevara still faces potential deportation to his native El Salvador. The latest: MG News, the independent media outlet started by Guevara, reported Tuesday that an immigration judge ordered him to be released on a $7,500 bond. Catch up quick: Guevara, a prominent Spanish-speaking journalist, was among eight people arrested June 14 during a protest along Chamblee Tucker Road in DeKalb County. He was charged with obstruction, pedestrian walking in or along a roadway and unlawful assembly. Federal immigration officials placed a hold on his detention at DeKalb County Jail, meaning they would take him into custody once he was released from the facility. He was released from DeKalb County Jail on June 18 and transferred to ICE's custody. The Associated Press reports Guevara was held at the immigration detention center in Folkston, Ga. Flashback: Giovanni Diaz, Guevara's attorney, previously told Axios his client has authorization to work in the United States and is in the process of obtaining his green card. State of play: The DeKalb County Solicitor General's Office last week dismissed the three charges Guevara was originally arrested for, noting there was "insufficient" evidence to prosecute him. The intrigue: Days after his arrest, Guevara was charged by the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office with reckless driving, distracted driving and failure to obey traffic control devices.
