French MEP Mathilde Androuët (Patriots for Europe) has challenged the European Commission's claim that the EU-Mercosur trade agreement will lower food prices for European consumers, citing a study that suggests gains from lower agricultural producer prices may be captured by intermediaries rather than passed on to shoppers.
In a written parliamentary question submitted on 17 June 2026, Androuët references a study by Orsola Costantini and Alex Izurieta, published by CAN Europe, which argues that lower producer prices do not automatically translate into lower consumer prices, especially in highly concentrated food supply chains. The study notes that despite a fall in producer prices in 2024, consumer food prices continued to rise, albeit more slowly.
whether it can still maintain that the agreement will cut food prices for consumers; whether it has assessed how much of the gains could be captured by intermediaries such as processors and retailers; and how it justifies undermining European producers without a guarantee of benefits for consumers.
The MEP's intervention targets a core Commission argument for the trade deal — that liberalisation boosts economic efficiency and lowers prices for households. By questioning the pass-through of price cuts, Androuët seeks to expose a potential gap between the agreement's promised consumer benefits and its actual impact, while also highlighting risks to European farmers who may face increased competition from Mercosur agricultural imports.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether it has conducted any analysis of intermediary capture and how it defends the deal's consumer benefits against the study's findings.