The EESC calls for improved agricultural safeguard clauses in trade

By the EESC Employers' Group

An own-initiative opinion on Introduction of safeguard measures for agricultural products in trade agreements was adopted at the July plenary session.

This opinion, adopted just before the Commission's revision of EU trade policy is due to start, emphasises the geostrategic challenge of food production and the need to protect the production capacity of each country by promoting agricultural and trade policies adapted for this purpose, while guaranteeing international trade that can cope both with production fluctuations and with the perennial shortcomings of certain geographical areas.

According to the rapporteur, Arnold Puech d'Alissac, a member of the EESC Employers' Group, "IT capacity developments now make it possible to implement much more effective measures. These can be swift, automatic, proportionate and exhaustive in order to fulfil their role of protecting sectors, from producers to consumers".

The rapporteur also stresses that, "it's also an opportunity for the concept of sustainability to be recognised in trade negotiations to prevent cheap imports with insufficiently sustainable production conditions from being favoured over European production. In light of the Green Deal, consistency between environmental, agricultural and trade policies is vital." (kr)