Answer given by Ms Malmström on behalf of the European Commission

8.10.2019

Sugar consumption in the European Union is stable at around 19 million tonnes per year. The concession to Mercosur thus concerns 1% of the EU sugar market.

Furthermore, no new quota has been offered to Brazil. Rather, the in-quota duty has been eliminated on part of an existing quota in the amount of 180 000 tonnes. The only new quota created by the agreement is the quota of 10 000 tonnes for Paraguay. Both quotas are for sugar for refining, while specialty sugars are excluded from the agreement.

The negotiations with Mercosur have now been concluded. The concession for sugar is part of a balanced outcome that, while offering meaningful market access to our partners, also defends the interests of EU farmers.

All sensitive products, including sugar, are covered by a bilateral safeguard mechanism under the agreement, which can be triggered in the unlikely event of serious injury or the threat of serious injury to the sector concerned.