Czech farmers up in arms over unfair competition
Hundreds of Czech farmers joined pan-European protests against food imports from outside the European Union on Thursday. They are calling for the cancellation of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, an end to duty-free imports from Ukraine and significant cuts in red tape.
Honking horns, pile-ups and short tempers marked Thursday’s protest ride of tractors in many parts of the country. This time protesting farmers did not head for Prague, but congregated on town squares and border crossings around the country to bring home the message that local agricultural producers are slowly being destroyed by unfair foreign competition from outside the EU. Jiri Vacek from the Agrarian Chamber explains:
“We want the public to read our billboards and hear our arguments and have a think about whether they shouldn’t do more to support their own farmers, so that quality Czech products stay quality Czech products and environmentally-friendly Czech agriculture stays in the hands of Czech farmers, rather than foreign conglomerates.”
Farmers protested against the trade agreement between the EU and the South American countries of the Mercosur association and duty-free grain imports from Ukraine, because in these countries farmers do not have to comply with the strict norms of the EU. President of the Agrarian Chamber Jan Doležal:
“We are calling on the government to protect our livelihood by securing fair conditions on the market – i.e. for the goods sold here to have to comply with the same strict norms that bind European producers. In doing so, it would also protect consumers by allowing only quality goods on the market. I think the government should show an interest in what goods will be imported here in the coming years.”
According to the Chamber, the trade agreement with South American countries will increase imports of sugar, beef and poultry, reduce prices on the European market and ultimately push out Czech producers.
Farmers warn this will lead to loss of competitiveness and have a negative impacts on consumer health. They also argue that the present association agreement with Ukraine will lead to an increase in imports of cheap and inferior grain and oilseeds.
Czech farmers have been protesting against duty-free imports from Ukraine since the start of the war. The flood of cheap grain had a devastating impact on their business. Growers' granaries were full and there was nowhere to store the new crop. They are demanding a revision of the deal so that it effectively protects Czech producers.
And last, but not least, they are demanding a significant reduction in the amount of red tape and bureaucratic hurdles imposed on them by EU regulations. Commission data confirms the validity of these arguments. According to the Commission’s own survey, around 33 % of European farmers are having to spend six days a year on bureaucratic and administrative tasks, which leads to financial losses. Those wishing to apply for EU financial support are faced with even more red tape.
