Commissioner Christophe Hansen, in a written answer on 29 June 2026, assured that the European Commission will publish regular monitoring reports on imports of sensitive agricultural products under the EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement, aiming to address concerns over unfair competition raised by French and European farmers. The answer responds to a parliamentary question from MEPs Jean-Paul Garraud and Christophe Bay (both PfE), who warned that tariff-rate quotas for beef (99,000 tonnes), poultry (180,000 tonnes), ethanol, and other products could undermine EU health, environmental, and social standards.
Hansen cited Regulation (EU) 2026/687, adopted on 11 March 2026, which mandates the Commission to constantly monitor import trends, production, and price developments for sensitive products, with support from EU market observatories. The Commission will cooperate with Member States, the European Parliament, and EU industry on data exchange. A monitoring report will be presented to the European Parliament and Council at least every six months, with the first due before the end of 2026. The answer provides concrete institutional follow-up but does not specify numerical thresholds or automatic safeguard triggers beyond the existing regulation. The policy orientation is defensive: the Commission prioritises transparency and data-driven oversight to reassure farmers, rather than tightening import conditions or renegotiating quotas. Stakeholders most impacted include EU livestock and poultry producers, who face increased competition; EU consumers, who may benefit from lower prices but risk lower-standard imports; Mercosur exporters, who gain preferential access; and EU regulatory bodies, which must sustain monitoring capacity.