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Agriculture and rural development

Studies on agri-food trade

The European Commission and its partners regularly produce studies to assess the impacts of international trade agreements on agriculture.

2024

Cumulative economic impact of upcoming trade agreements on EU agriculture

In February 2024 the Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) published a study covering the expected cumulative effects of ten trade agreements on the agri-food sector by 2032, as well as a simulation of the effects of UK trade policy. The study includes trade results for the agricultural sector as a whole, as well as sector-specific impacts on trade, producer prices and production volumes.

The study focuses on ten trade agreements:

  • agreements with Mexico, Chile, New Zealand and Mercosur for which negotiations have been concluded,
  • agreements that are under negotiation or are part of the EU trade agenda (Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand).

Press release

2021

Economic effects of twelve trade agreements on the agri-food sector

In January 2021, the Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) published a study covering the expected cumulative effects of twelve ongoing and upcoming trade agreements on the agri-food sector by 2030. The study includes trade results for the agricultural sector as a whole, as well as sector-specific impacts on trade, producer prices and production volumes.

The study focuses on twelve trade agreements:

  • agreements with Canada, Japan and Vietnam that have already entered into force,
  • agreements with Mexico and Mercosur for which negotiations have been concluded,
  • agreements that are under negotiation or are part of the EU trade agenda (Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand).
  • 26 JANUARY 2021
Factsheet: What cumulative impacts will trade agreements have on the European agri-food sector?
  • 27 JANUARY 2021
Cumulative economic impact of trade agreements on EU agri-food sector: presentation to EU agriculture ministers
  • 26 JANUARY 2021
Report: Cumulative economic impact of trade agreements on EU agriculture

2017

Impact of EU trade agreements on the EU agricultural sector

The study, carried out in 2017 on behalf of the Commission by the independent consultancy Copenhagen Economics, analyses the impact on agri-food trade of the agreements concluded by the EU with three countries: Mexico, South Korea and Switzerland. It shows that trade agreements have helped to boost EU agricultural exports and have supported jobs in the agri-food sector and other sectors of the economy.

2016

Economic study on the cumulative effects of trade agreements on the EU agricultural sector

In 2016, the European Commission (JRC working together with the directorate-general for agriculture and rural development) published the findings of a study on the potential impact of a number of trade negotiations on the EU agricultural sector, based on models simulating reciprocal liberalisation of import tariffs between the EU and the relevant trading partners.

Press release

  • 1 JANUARY 2016
Full report: cumulative economic impact of future trade agreements on EU agriculture
  • 1 JANUARY 2016
Executive summary: cumulative economic impact of future trade agreements on EU agriculture

2011

Studies on the effects of a potential free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and Mercosur

In 2011, the JRC’s Institute for prospective technological studies (ITPS) published an impact assessment on the potential effect of an EU-Mercosur FTA, then under negotiation.

The Commission’s directorate-general for agriculture and rural development also prepared an analysis of how the FTA with Mercosur might impact EU farm income and agricultural employment, based on data from the Farm accountancy data network (FADN).

  • 1 JANUARY 2011
Impact assessment of a possible FTA between the EU and Mercosur

On behalf of the Commission’s directorate-general for trade, the independent consultancy Copenhagen Economics also carried out an impact assessment of the barriers to trade and investment between the EU and Mercosur.

  • 1 MAY 2011
Assessment of barriers to trade and investment between the EU and Mercosur

2009

In 2009, the Commission published the final reports of a trade sustainability impact assessment of the EU-Mercosur FTA, then under negotiation.