EU-Mexico Free Trade Negotiations Sparks Outcry Among European Small-Scale Farmers
Once again, a free trade agreement appears to benefit export-oriented multinational agribusinesses at the expense of smallholder farmers on both sides of the Atlantic.
On 23rd January, the European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC)— representing peasant farmers, small and medium-scale farmers, and agricultural workers across Europe—issued a press release condemning the decision by the European Commission and Mexico to conclude negotiations on the EU-Mexico trade agreement. These negotiations come just one and a half months after the finalization of the EU-Mercosur deal, which had already been denounced by these same unions.
The ECVC argues that the rush to conclude such trade agreements is further squeezing farmers and disregards the demands of thousands of farmers who have been mobilizing for over a year. The organization claims that these agreements do the exact opposite of what farmers are calling for.
The European Commission has stated that the free trade agreement will open new markets for European products, including increased quotas for cheese, poultry, pork, apples, chocolate, and wine, as well as improved access to public procurement in Mexico for European agribusinesses. However, the ECVC warns that this trade model encourages EU farmers to specialize in production for export rather than promoting the sustainable diversification needed to meet biodiversity and climate goals. Additionally, the agreement primarily benefits multinational trading firms, not farmers, who will be forced to compete with each other in a global market disconnected from local realities.
The deal is expected to have a similar impact on Mexican farmers and rural communities. While high-value EU products, affordable only to the wealthiest Mexicans, will be exported to Mexico, small and medium-scale farmers in the country will face increased pressure to specialize and industrialize. Meanwhile, export-oriented agribusinesses will thrive.
Notably, the European Commission’s press release did not address how many thousands of tons of Mexican beef, poultry, pork, or honey will enter the EU market with little to no tariffs.
The ECVC emphasizes that, now more than ever, the only way to address European farmers’ needs is to:
- Remove agriculture from free trade agreements,
- Impose minimum entry prices on imported agricultural products, and
- Guarantee that prices paid to farmers cover production costs.
The ECVC has pledged to continue advocating for these measures in decision-making spaces and through public demonstrations to ensure that farmers’ voices are heard.