Commissioner Hansen, in a written answer on 9 July 2026, defended the EU-Mercosur Interim Agreement's treatment of Brazilian orange juice, arguing that the product's classification was based on a balanced assessment and that existing monitoring and safeguard mechanisms are sufficient to protect the European citrus processing industry. The answer, responding to a question by MEP Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Verts/ALE), signals that the Commission sees no need for additional automatic safeguards despite industry fears of market disruption.
The Commissioner noted that citrus juice imports from Brazil have already fallen from 1.3 million tonnes in 2020 to 600,000 tonnes in 2025, and that tariff reductions will be phased over seven to ten years, with some products limited to a 50% reduction. He pointed to Regulation (EU) 2026/687, which implements bilateral safeguard clauses for the EU-Mercosur agreement, requiring the Commission to monitor sensitive products and allowing the industry to request extended monitoring. However, the answer contains no new concrete proposals, numerical targets, or commitments to introduce automatic safeguard triggers, leaving the industry reliant on existing procedures.
the Commission acknowledges the sector's importance but prioritises the broader trade deal's reciprocal benefits. Institutional follow-up is likely to focus on continued data collection via the Citrus Market Observatory and potential industry requests for extended monitoring under the safeguard regulation. The answer may disappoint processors seeking stronger protection, while exporters in Brazil will welcome the tariff phase-out schedule.