EU farmers seek balanced deal in TTIP trade talks with US

A good, balanced agreement is a priority for the European Union in the trade talks with the United States.

Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan said the gains for each side in the ongoing Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations can be huge.

“We all know agriculture is a real challenge as the US is very competitive in sectors where we have higher costs.

“Now, I am convinced we can get a balanced outcome that will have the support of Europe’s farm sector.

“But to achieve that balance, and to get the weight of the farm groups, member states and the European Parliament behind TTIP, Europe will need some gains too.

“We will need real access for our dairy sector, which faces tariff peaks and sanitary barriers. In addition we will need protection in the US of our GIs (Geographic Indications), including different wine terms.

“But we need to start negotiating these things now,” he told the annual agricultural outlook conference in Brussels.

Mr Hogan said 20 years of reform have made the EU farm sector competitive in world markets. It has become the world’s biggest trader of agri-food products, with exports of €122 billion and imports of €104 billion.

The agri-food sector is the fourth largest export motor in the EU and, despite economic recession, has increased the value of its exports by 70% in the last five years. Exports are growing at 9% a year.

While long term prospects are good, this won’t happen by itself. To open and invest in those markets, the EU needs an active trade policy.

Mr Hogan said farming employs 22 million people in the EU and, together with the food sector, provides 44 million jobs, many of which are in rural and peripheral regions where there are few alternative employment prospects.

This illustrates the contribution agri-food can make to the jobs growth and investment agenda which is a core element of President Juncker’s political guidelines for this Commission.

Through the CAP, the viability of thousands of rural communities has been maintained. Keeping people on the land does so much more than simply maintain food production.