Speaking to Alentrium.pt, the president of ACOS says the agreement may open opportunities for some products but raises concerns for others
Farmers from southern Portugal gathered in Beja for a briefing session on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the European Union–Mercosur trade agreement, an accord that continues to divide opinion across the agricultural sector.
The meeting, held at the NERBE auditorium, was promoted by the Federation of Farmers’ Associations of Baixo Alentejo (FAABA), the Southern Farmers’ Association (ACOS) and the Confederation of Portuguese Farmers (CAP). Around 200 farmers attended in person, with several dozen more following the debate online.
The session aimed to clarify the potential impacts of the Mercosur agreement, which involves the EU and several South American countries, and to address what organisers described as a lack of clear, accessible information among producers.
Different impacts across sectors
In an interview with Alentrium.pt, Rui Garrido, president of ACOS, said the analysis presented by CAP points to very different outcomes depending on the agricultural sector.
“This was essentially a working and information session. When it comes to the reform of the CAP, there is broad agreement that the proposal on the table does not meet the needs of the sector. Regarding the Mercosur agreement, however, there has been a lot of uncertainty and misinformation, and it was important to explain a highly complex and technical agreement,” he said.
According to Garrido, sectors such as olive oil, wine, fruit and certain dairy products could benefit from improved access to new markets, particularly in South America.
“For regions like Alentejo, products such as olive oil, wine and fruit may find new opportunities, provided Portugal is able to promote and add value to what it produces,” he explained, pointing to the scale of potential markets and the cultural and linguistic proximity to Brazil.
By contrast, the meat sector is seen as more exposed to competitive pressure.
“The meat sector is, from the outset, the one that may be most penalised by this agreement,” Garrido said, while stressing that safeguard mechanisms are included.
Safeguards and controls
Under the terms presented during the session, the agreement sets limits on additional meat imports entering the EU under reduced tariffs. If these quotas are exceeded or if market prices fall beyond defined thresholds, safeguard clauses could be triggered.
Another issue discussed was the monitoring of production standards.
“The agreement foresees the possibility for the European Union to verify production conditions at source. At the moment, many products are imported without effective control. This does not solve everything, but it is an improvement compared to the current situation,” Garrido noted.
Information as a key outcome
Asked about the overall outcome of the debate, the ACOS president highlighted the importance of informed discussion.
“There were many questions and a very open debate. Often, opinions are formed without access to detailed information. Farmers left better informed than when they arrived, and that was the main objective,” he concluded.
As discussions on the EU–Mercosur agreement and the future of the CAP continue at European level, farming organisations in Portugal argue that clear information, effective safeguards and policies tailored to regional realities will be essential to ensure the sector’s long-term sustainability.
