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The meeting was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, with the participation of representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, as well as the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), which is the technical secretariat of the Southern Agricultural Council (CAS), a forum for consultation and coordination of regional actions on agricultural policy issues, created in 2003.
The ministers discussed the implications of the agreement signed between Mercosur and the European Union (EU) after 25 years of negotiations.
Among the opportunities identified, the possibility of diversifying markets and consolidating Mercosur countries as key suppliers of high quality food to the EU was highlighted. In addition, the agreement could generate incentives for the modernization of agricultural production, the incorporation of sustainable technologies, and the strengthening of regional value chains, boosting exports and strengthening the sector's competitiveness at the global level.
However, the ministers also expressed concern about the challenges that this agreement entails. One of the critical points discussed was the impact of EU Regulation 1115 on Deforestation, whose entry into force has been postponed. This regulation imposes restrictions on trade in products from deforested areas, which could significantly affect the region's agricultural exports, particularly those linked to the production of meat, soybeans, and other commodities.
In response to these challenges, the ministers agreed that it is essential to strengthen cooperation among the countries of the region to demonstrate to the EU the advances in sustainability and national regulations that already guarantee environmental conservation. They also stressed the importance of establishing a more active dialogue with European representatives to ensure that trade regulations do not become unjustified barriers to Mercosur's agri-food trade.
In addition, within the framework of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), to be held in November in Brazil, the need to generate consensus in the regional agricultural sector to present a common position on sustainability and agricultural production to the international community was underscored.
February 11, 2025/ Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
https://iica.int/es/
