The agricultural union Fugea has strongly condemned a new EU-US trade agreement that introduces a 15% tariff on certain European exports.
Fugea argues that European farmers have once again been sacrificed in international negotiations.
The union accuses the European Commission of granting preferential market access to a wide range of American agricultural products, while EU exports will face steep tariffs heading the other way.
The agreement also simplifies health certificate requirements for US pork and dairy products, a move that has sparked serious concerns from the union.
"After ratifying the EU-Mercosur agreement, the Commission continues to pit our farms against foreign production systems with lower standards," said Fugea in a statement.
The union warns that this market liberalisation threatens local farms, stalls efforts to achieve sustainable transitions, puts European consumer health at risk, and undermines environmental protections.
Fugea, echoing the calls of the European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC), is urging stronger regulation of European agricultural markets to protect farmers and ensure fair competition.
