According to Ardanowski, the security measures are illusory.
Quoted fragment of the program:
“South America showed Kozakiewicz's gesture quite clearly,” he said, referring to the reaction of Mercosur countries to European restrictions. In his opinion, additional regulations will not be respected by South American partners.
“This is not a part of the agreement, so these are your limitations, do what you want, we will do it our way” – this is how Ardanowski interpreted the position of the Mercosur countries. The agreement does include quota tariffs for several sensitive products, which will be allowed to enter the European market in increasing amounts for six years, but the former minister describes it as an “attempt to calm down”.
Even a few percent is a threat?
Ardanowski believes that even relatively small volumes of incoming food may prove to be a problem.
The key argument of opponents of the agreement is the specificity of the European food market. “In a saturated market, each inflow of food by several percent causes a sharp drop in prices” – explained Ardanowski.
According to the MP, the problem does not concern products that Europe does not produce – bananas, citrus fruits, coffee or yerba mate. “There you go, if America has it, we can buy it too“- he admitted.
However, primary products pose a threat. “Cereals, corn, sugar – sugar cane dominates the world and sugar beets will disappear in Europe. Poultry meat, where Brazil is the world leader, as well as eggs. They are already waiting in European ports,” Ardanowski said.
The issue of Argentine beef is particularly controversial. “It's not about the two percent share of beef in the European market. It's about the best cuts – sirloin, roast beef and entrecote, which constitute 15% of the recorded volume of deliveries to Europe. beef market“- he specified.
“And we are still in trouble related to this food from Ukraine“- he added.
A repeat of Ukraine?
Ardanowski also recalled the situation with imports from Ukraine, which, in his opinion, is a similar lesson. “Before the war, Europe agreed to import sugar from Ukraine in the amount of 20,000. tone. In the first year of the war, Ukrainians sold 450,000 to Europe. toneand the agreement that entered into force on October 29, says about 100 thousand. tons – that is, five times more than before the war” – he pointed out.
“Besides, this is not any help for Ukraine, because there are holding companies there that don't care about the Ukrainian state and pay practically no taxes,” he added. In his opinion, the same international companies dominate agriculture in South America. “We do not compete with farmers from South America. There are practically no farmers there. These are the four or five largest food trading companies,” he emphasized.
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