Two Green MEPs have asked the European Commission to assess the impact of rising garlic imports from China and Egypt on EU producers, warning that surging imports combined with high production costs are destabilising the market and threatening small farmers in rural areas. The question, tabled on 15 April 2026 by David Cormand and Majdouline Sbai (both Verts/ALE), targets three concrete demands: a public impact assessment, a revision of import quotas for China, and activation of safeguard clauses for Egyptian garlic.
The parliamentary question is a written query under Rule 144 of the European Parliament's rules of procedure. It does not carry binding force but obliges the Commission to respond within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal the executive's policy direction on trade defence in the agri-food sector.
The MEPs ask whether the Commission has a recent, public assessment of how third-country imports affect EU market equilibrium and small producers. They also inquire if the Commission is prepared to revise the garlic quotas allocated to China under existing trade agreements, or to mobilise trade defence instruments such as anti-dumping measures. Finally, they ask whether the Commission intends to activate safeguard clauses relating to imports of Egyptian garlic, which could temporarily restrict imports if they cause serious injury to EU producers.
Policy orientation and expected follow-up The question reflects a protectionist-leaning stance, advocating for tighter import controls to shield EU garlic growers from foreign competition. The MEPs frame the issue as a matter of economic survival for rural communities, emphasising rising costs for energy, storage and transport. The Commission's reply will clarify whether it sees the current import levels as a threat requiring intervention, or whether it considers the market sufficiently balanced. The answer is expected within six weeks and will be closely watched by EU garlic producers, importers, and third-country exporters, particularly in China and Egypt.
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