Council of the European Union Press Release 5 March 2026, 12:25
nnnnnnnnBrussels, 5 March 2026 – . The EU Council has today formally adopted the regulation implementing the bilateral safeguard clause provided for in the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement and in the EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement for agricultural products. The regulation aims to strengthen the protection of farmers, livestock producers, and poultry producers in the EU, enabling safeguard measures to be applied swiftly should imports from Mercosur partners threaten to cause serious harm to EU producers.
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Michael Damianos, Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus:
nnnnnnnnnWe committed to protecting our farmers; it is that commitment we have honoured today. EU farmers will be better protected against market disruptions and sudden import surges. Thanks to this regulation, we will have the capacity to react quickly and effectively to safeguard our agricultural interests, while at the same time fostering the strengthening of trade ties with Mercosur.
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The regulation builds on the EU’s existing safeguard mechanisms, but introduces faster procedures and simplified conditions for triggering them. In particular, it establishes a 5% threshold relative to a three-year average to justify the opening of an investigation into sensitive products. These investigations will be concluded within a period of four months, and provisional measures may be implemented within 21 days in cases of urgency.
nnnnThe Commission will also proactively monitor imports of sensitive agricultural products and publish regular reports on market developments.
nnnnNext steps
nnnnThe adopted regulation will now be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication. The regulation will apply to the interim trade agreement and will continue to apply once the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement has been fully ratified.
nnnnBackground
nnnnBilateral safeguard clauses are an integral part of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement and the EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement.
nnnnThe regulation on safeguard clauses complements broader agreements aimed at deepening trade and political relations between the EU and the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), while (on paper) ensuring robust protection for EU agricultural sectors that could be particularly exposed to competition from imports. The EU-Mercosur Association Agreement and the EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement were signed by both parties in Asunción, Paraguay, on 17 January 2026. For the agreements to be formally concluded and to enter into force, the approval of the European Parliament will be required.
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Source:
-. Council of the European Union Press Release 5 March 2026, 12:25
Further reading:
-. EU-MERCOSUR Agreement
-. EU-MERCOSUR Agreement impact on Poultry. Report by AVEC-COGAG. 20250624
-. The “safeguard clause“: false protection, mere window-dressing
-. Mercosur
-. AVEC
-. COGAC
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