EU-Mercosur free trade deal sparks farmers protests in Italy
After 25 years of negotiations, the European Union and the Latin American countries making up the Mercosur bloc, namely Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, signed a free trade agreement on Saturday.
The deal, signed in Paraguay's capital Asunción, aims to lower tariffs and boost trade between the two regions.
We are creating the largest free trade zone in the world. We are creating a market of 700 million people.
Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commission President
The deal has sparked protests across many European Union countries.
Critics say it would expose EU farmers to unfair competition from Latin American imports that do not meet the bloc's production standards.
In Italy, protests against the deal have been held in a number of cities, including Milan, Turin, and, L'Aquila.
A protest campaign involving farmers and rural producers also began on Monday in more than 20 localities across the country.
Some farmers gathered on the outskirts of Rome, where they were preparing for rallies.
This deal creates even more problems for us. Not only are our products underpaid here in Italy now, we also have to face unfair competition from South American products subject to looser production standards and contaminated with pesticides banned here.
Italian Farmer 01
Italy had initially appeared hesitant to sign the free trade deal with the Latin American Mercosur block.
Earlier this month, however, Rome signaled it would cast its decisive vote in favor of the deal, following new funding promised by Brussels to European farmers.
Throwing us a bone as usual and the bone does not even get to us. Most of these EU payments end up in the pockets of the agencies between us farmers and Brussels. The truth is that the EU works in the interest of the big food companies, period.
Italian Farmer 02
The current Italian government has even renamed the Agriculture Ministry as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food serenity, citing a focus on protecting local quality food, rejecting global standardization and ensuring self sufficiency.
At this point, Italy's agriculture is in the hands of,... I better shut my mouth. I will only say that our agriculture is in the hands of a lobby that includes left and right leaning parties.
Italian Farmer 03
The EU Mercosur trade deal must now be ratified by the European Parliament and by the members of the Mercosur block before it comes into effect.
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