The free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American Mercosur bloc entered into force on May 1, 2026, after nearly 25 years of negotiations. For European farmers, and especially for those in Romania, its significance is major: EU markets are gradually opening to agricultural products from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay — countries with significantly lower production costs, less stringent environmental and animal welfare standards, and vast agricultural areas. The first signals from the field are already visible: on May 7, 2026, Agrointeligența reported that the first batches of chicken meat imported from Brazil under the Mercosur agreement were contaminated with Salmonella, triggering a sanitary alert and a public debate about the equivalence of standards.

The sectors most exposed in Romania are beef, poultry, and sugar. Brazil and Argentina are among the world’s largest producers and exporters of beef, with production costs per kilogram significantly lower than in Romania, even after reduced import duties under the agreement. The sugar sector, already affected by the collapse of domestic production in 2024 — with the self-sufficiency rate dropping to 26% — becomes even more vulnerable to South American cane sugar, which can be produced at costs two to three times lower than European beet sugar.

The pro-agreement argument put forward by the European Commission is based on reciprocal access: European exporters of machinery, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals gain new markets in South America, while food prices could slightly decrease for European consumers. European farmers, through their representative organizations, have strongly contested this logic, citing unfair competition from producers who do not comply with Farm to Fork standards, do not pay carbon pricing, and benefit from significantly lower land and labor costs. Thousands of Irish farmers protested in May 2026 in Athlone against the agreement, demanding explicit protection for local producers.

For Romanian farms, the response to Mercosur cannot be passive. Farmers producing commodities at high costs, without product differentiation or quality certification, will directly feel the pressure of imports. Those who invest in traceability, organic production, regional branding, or vertical integration have a real margin of protection — European consumers are willing to pay more for products with verified origin and certified standards. This differentiation is no longer a strategic option, but a condition for medium-term survival.

(Photo: Magnific)