Prof. Jan Hagemejer, President of the Management Board of CASE, in an interview for Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, emphasises that the main objective of the agreement is to strengthen the EU’s position in global trade and create new opportunities for the European economy.
The benefits for the EU will be gradual and moderate – CASE has estimated an additional increase in EU GDP of around 0.1%. The industrial sectors, including automotive, machinery, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, will benefit the most, while agriculture, which will compete with goods from South America, will be covered by protective mechanisms and tariff quotas.
The most overlooked element of this discussion is consumers. Meanwhile, Jan points out that ‘free trade agreements are concluded, among other things, so that customers visiting shops have more choice and can buy cheaper’. At the same time, agri-food products from Mercosur entering and already present on the EU market must comply with EU standards. At the same time, this agreement will encourage European producers to increase their competitiveness and productivity.
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