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Cypriot Farmers Fear Unfair Competition from Mercosur Agreement

Published January 15, 2026, 08:27

The EU trade agreement with Latin American countries (Mercosur) has raised concerns among Cypriot farmers, which were discussed at the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture. Agricultural organizations and MPs expressed fears of unfair competition due to lower production costs in Latin America and different standards for pesticide controls. The view was expressed that the agreement would lead to a reduction in the production of Cypriot products and would victimize the Cypriot primary sector. It was pointed out that products from Latin America would be cheaper but potentially of lower quality, while Cypriot products would have increased production costs. The President of the Agriculture Committee, Yannakis Gavriel, stated that the government proceeded with the agreement without consultation with consumers and agricultural organizations, and that none of those present at the meeting supported it. He stressed the inequality in competition due to higher production costs in Cyprus compared to the average wage of €300 per month in Latin America. The main concern is the import of cheap products from Latin America, of questionable quality and with different standards for pesticide use compared to the EU.