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Poland to Sue EU Over Mercosur Deal to Protect Its Farmers
(MENAFN) Poland is taking the European Union's landmark trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc to the bloc's highest court, as Warsaw escalates its fight to protect domestic agricultural interests, Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced Wednesday.
Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed the Polish government had formally approved a motion to file a legal complaint with the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU), a Polish broadcaster reported.
The EU and Mercosur inked the long-awaited free trade agreement in January, capping nearly 25 years of negotiations. The deal has nonetheless sparked fierce backlash in Poland, where farmers warn that an influx of cheaper South American agricultural imports could devastate domestic producers. Warsaw has consistently pushed back against the agreement, citing threats to local farming, food security, and production standards, while pressing for stronger protective provisions.
"We've already secured safety clauses for farmers, and we'll ensure that Polish tables have the highest quality food," Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
The legal challenge follows a statement by Poland's agriculture minister in April, who criticized the manner in which the agreement had been concluded — specifically condemning what Warsaw characterized as a rushed process that circumvented national ratification procedures. Poland also objected to the deal's provisional implementation, which came into effect on May 1.
The Mercosur bloc comprises Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Proponents argue the agreement would forge one of the world's largest free trade zones and deepen economic ties between the two regions. However, Poland is not alone in its reservations — several EU member states have raised alarms over environmental compliance gaps and the heightened competitive pressure the deal places on European farmers.
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