The Citrus Management Committee (CGC), together with organisations such as La Unió and AVA-ASAJA, has denounced the European Commission for neglecting the citrus sector during the EU-Mercosur agreement negotiations. This omission jeopardises both the juice and fresh produce industries, as the sector depends on existing tariffs to remain competitive.
Tariff liberalisation and pressure on prices
The agreement provides for the elimination of the 12.2% tariff on fresh juice within seven years, the 15% tariff on concentrated juice within ten years, and the 12.8% tariff on fresh fruit within a decade. This liberalisation will generate a surplus of fruit with no clear outlet — between 650,000 and 850,000 tonnes — which could cause prices to fall on the European market.
Unequal competition and phytosanitary risks
The CGC warns that large Brazilian juice multinationals—such as Citrosuco, Cutrale, and Louis Dreyfus—have logistical structures that allow them to compete at lower costs than European citrus growers, who face stricter phytosanitary and environmental requirements. They also warn of the increased risk of introducing pests into Europe due to the rise in imports from Mercosur.
You can read the full article here: La patronal citrícola alerta del impacto negativo en los precios por el acuerdo entre la UE y Mercosur
