European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the decision to provisionally implement the trade pillar of the agreement with Mercosur countries. This decision, made without an immediate vote in the European Parliament, has sparked strong reactions across Europe. While Italy and Spain see enormous export opportunities in the agreement, French President Emmanuel Macron called this move a "bad surprise" and an action targeting European agriculture.
Exports are growing rapidly, but the deficit hasn't changed drastically. Clear surplus after April
The latest data from the National Bank of Poland shows that Polish exports are going full steam ahead. In April alone, they grew by nearly a quarter.
Poland's trade balance after April stands at 2.4 billion euros
Despite high dynamics in exports and imports, Poland records a positive balance of trade in goods after the first four months of 2024.
NBP: Growth in exports and imports of services in April
Positive data from the Polish economy - not only goods trade is growing, but services are developing equally dynamically.
The European Commission's decision to initiate the provisional application procedure of the trade agreement with Mercosur countries represents one of the most controversial turns in EU trade policy in recent years. Ursula von der Leyen justified this haste by the need to strengthen Europe's geopolitical position amid global uncertainty. This move allows key provisions on tariff reductions to enter into force before final ratification by all national parliaments, effectively neutralizing France's previous veto. Paris immediately condemned this step, calling it a "harmful decision" and "an act of ignoring democratic institutions." Farmers participating in the International Agricultural Show in Paris speak openly of betrayal, fearing the market will be flooded with cheaper food from South America that doesn't have to meet strict EU standards. Negotiations on the EU-Mercosur agreement lasted over two decades, with their conclusion repeatedly postponed due to concerns about protecting the Amazon Rainforest and protests from European cattle farmers. In Poland, the mood is equally tense. Representatives of the Confederation, including MEP Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik, sharply criticized Brussels, using terms such as "authoritarian euro-communism" and "an open assault on our health." This criticism focuses on a report indicating the presence of hormones and Salmonella bacteria in meat products from Brazil. Meanwhile, Anna Bryłka points to the "tyranny of the EC," which in her opinion operates at the edge of the law by pushing through trade agreements without real parliamentary control. However, it's worth noting that the economic perspective is not one-dimensional. Italy predicts that thanks to the agreement, trade turnover could increase by over 14 billion euros, opening new markets for the export of wines, cheeses, and pharmaceutical products.