Tobacco producers: Mercosur deal will ruin Polish growers

Published 2024년 12월 12일

Tridge summary

The article highlights the concerns of the Polish Association of Tobacco Growers, led by Przemysław Noworyta, regarding the potential impact of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement on Poland's agricultural sector, particularly tobacco farming. The agreement, which has not yet been ratified, is expected to bring cheaper raw materials from Mercosur countries like Brazil, a major tobacco producer. This could lead to increased imports of cheaper South American tobacco, potentially replacing domestic production and threatening the existence of Polish tobacco farms.

Noworyta emphasizes the negative effects of the agreement on European agriculture, including the destruction of the Amazon rainforest for new plantations and the use of harmful substances in production, which could harm European consumers. He also worries that the agreement could disrupt efforts to increase purchases of Polish tobacco by tobacco companies, moving towards heated tobacco products. The article notes that tobacco is a significant part of Poland's agricultural sector, with about 3.6 thousand farms involving 20 thousand people and an annual production of 18-20 thousand tonnes. The export value of tobacco and tobacco products reached EUR 5.4 billion in 2023, accounting for 11% of Poland's total agri-food exports.

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Original content

The ratification of the agreement with the Mercosur countries will result in cheaper raw materials flowing into Poland. This could threaten the existence of tobacco farms - the president of the Polish Association of Tobacco Growers Przemysław Noworyta told PAP. Mercosur, or the Common Market of the South (Mercado Común del Sur), is a regional organization of South American countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. Last week, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced in Montevideo that the European Union and the South American bloc of Mercosur countries had completed negotiations on a free trade agreement. For the agreement to enter into force, it must be ratified by the EU member states. Poland is against signing this agreement. Noworyta assessed that this agreement is very unfavourable for both Polish and European agriculture, including tobacco producers. In South American countries, tobacco cultivation is an important ...

Source: AgroPolska