After more than 25 years of negotiations, the European Union’s trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc is moving closer to ratification, opening markets for European industry while reigniting fierce opposition from farmers across the continent. “The fears of farmers are not only in Poland but also among farmers in Belgium, France, Spain, Germany,” said Jerzy Kwieciński, vice president of the Polish Chamber of Commerce and a former finance and investment minister, speaking on TVP World’s World Talks. “Despite 25 years of negotiations, these fears have not vanished. That means something is not working.” Kwieciński stressed that the agreement is the EU’s largest trade deal to date, creating a free-trade zone covering nearly 800 million people. “Trade is extremely important for the European Union,” he said, noting that the bloc remains the world’s largest exporter. But agriculture remains the most politically sensitive sector. “Polish farmers are strong in products like beef, poultry, and milk,” Kwieciński said. “These are exactly the products that may be most affected by new competition from Latin America.” A central concern, he added, is regulatory imbalance. “Producers in Mercosur countries do not have to meet the same standards as European farmers—whether on food safety or climate policy. That creates real fears of preferential conditions.” EU negotiators point to safeguards, including import quotas and emergency brakes. The European Commission has also proposed a €6.3 billion support fund for farmers. Still, skepticism remains high. “Farmers are afraid that what is promised will not work as intended,” Kwieciński warned. For Poland, the benefits may be indirect. “Germany will likely be the biggest beneficiary,” he said, citing machinery, automotive, and chemical exports. “Poland may gain through manufacturing and supply chains—but agriculture remains the biggest challenge.”
