EU Import Crackdown

The European Commission could clear a rocky patch for farmers in future policy-making.

The rundown: The ruling body of the EU released a framework that would roll back its controversial Farm to Fork strategy and focus on new, manageable approaches for agricultural practices. Instead, new policies could focus on farmer profitability.

The commission published a document outlining the new vision. The draft highlighted “a stronger alignment of production standards applied to imported products,” while following international standards. Seems reasonable, right? 

The catch: The standards could still negatively impact U.S. agricultural exports. The Commission plans to establish a policy that would exclude imports of products using agricultural practices not allowed in the EU. 

The draft highlighted pesticides and animal welfare as target areas, including 72 pesticides that have been banned from the bloc. 

Soundbite: “As a principle, the most hazardous pesticides banned in the EU for health and environmental reasons should not be allowed back to the EU through imported products.” — European Commission

Food fight: Trade groups identified the suggestions as a potential mirror clause, basically saying, “if you don’t make your food the way we do, we won’t buy it.” Trade groups say the policy could violate world trade rules due to current requirements exports have to meet. 

The EU accounts for about 12% of US soybean exports and 8.5% of corn shipments this marketing year. Additionally, the U.S. ships 3% of its soybean meal and wheat to the countries.

No policy is set in stone yet, despite the tension. But future policies could mirror some of the frameworks in the published document.