A report from Friends of the Earth predicts lower food standards, increased imports from the US, lower prices paid to EU farmers by US importers, and restricted opportunities for exporters in the rest of the world, if the proposed transatlantic trade deal goes ahead
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a two-way trade deal between Europe and the USA which has been in negotiation for years, but may now be inching closer. It is widely predicted that it will have negative impacts on European and British farming and food production. However, it has been hard to spell these out, because the terms being negotiated are kept secret and also because the €1.3 trillion European food and drink sector is so varied and complex.
Friends of the Earth UK has now done a detailed analysis of available research. Its new report, Trading Away EU Farmers, sets out in very clear terms what the likely impacts of the deal would be on different agricultural sectors.
The evidence shows that export opportunities created through TTIP would not necessarily translate into better farm incomes, with the US Department of Agriculture predicting falls in the price paid to EU farmers in every food category. European gains are restricted to a few sectors, such as cheese, but even these are dependent on the US making changes to the ‘non-tariff measures’ that it uses to restrict trade. The models predict that the TTIP will increase food and agriculture imports from the US, to the possible detriment of EU farmers, with the existence of whole sectors potentially threatened. Producers supplying the EU from other world regions would also potentially lose out as trade is displaced by US producers.
Read about Sustain's campaign work on farming here.
Published Friday 6 May 2016
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
