EU-Mercosur trade deal: Fair play or threat for European farmers?

On January 9, most EU member states approved the long-negotiated trade agreement with Mercosur, igniting major protests from European farmers. The deal could reshape agricultural markets by lowering import duties for Latin American goods. Many in the sector fear tough new competition and question the fairness of the agreement. In general, the trade agreement by the EU with the Latin American Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay) focuses on eliminating as many import dut