Spanish farmers protest EU-Mercosur deal

By Senhan Bolelli

MADRID (AA) – Spanish farmers on Monday protested the recently agreed EU-Mercosur agreement in the capital Madrid, expressing concern that the deal would have a significant impact not only on local farmers but also on others throughout Europe.

On a call given by the Asaja and COAG unions, farmers gathered outside the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Ministry to protest the agreement between the bloc and Mercosur, the Latin American bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia.

The unions voiced concern that the agreement would create inequality of opportunity in the sector in Spain.

According to the farmers, the production cost in Mercosur countries is far less than that of Spain, and importing the products could have a significant impact on both Spanish and European farmers.

This deal will result in irreparable losses in Spain and the closure of businesses, said the unions.

On Dec. 6, the EU and four Mercosur countries reached a political agreement on a "ground-breaking" partnership agreement, to increase bilateral trade and investment while lowering tariff and non-tariff trade barriers, notably for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Some member states, including France, Poland, Italy, and Spain, have already voiced their opposition to the agreement.