Възможности и предизвикателства за България при влизане в сила на всеобхватното търговско споразумение за свободна търговия между ЕС и страните от блока Меркосур (сектор говеждо и птиче месо) (Bulgarian)

Opportunities and Challenges in Some Sectors of Bulgarian Agriculture within Mercosur Free Trade Agreement (Beef and Poultry Sectors). (English)

The purpose of this article is to analyze the opportunities and challenges facing some sectors of Bulgarian agriculture in the context of a comprehensive free trade agreement between the Member States of the European Union and Mercosur (a bloc comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). The new framework for trade – part of a broader association agreement between the two regions – is expected to consolidate their strategic political and economic partnership and create significant opportunities for sustainable growth for both countries while protecting the environment and safeguarding interests EU consumers and sensitive economic sectors. Studies of the effects of this agreement work with a number of assumptions, since in principle the parties will proceed to a legal revision to come up with the final version of the Association Agreement and all its commercial aspects. The Commission will then translate the text into all official EU languages and submit the agreement of approval to the Council and the European Parliament. In the field of agriculture, the EU–Mercosur agreement will affect a major abolition and / or phasing in of customs duties, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, etc. The customs duties of 93% of tariff lines (positions) for exports of EU agricultural and food products will be phased out. These lines correspond to 95% of the value of EU agricultural exports to the Mercosur countries. For its part, the EU will liberalize 82% of imports of agricultural products originating in the Mercosur countries, with the remaining imports subject to partial liberalization commitments, including tariff quotas for more sensitive products with very few products, which will completely be excluded. On the basis of statistics, the agricultural trade of Bulgaria and the EU with the Mercosur countries, in particular the trade in poultry and beef, has been traced and the importance and possible consequences for these sectors of agriculture for and from the conclusion of the such an agreement. The exports and imports of Bulgaria and the EU with the Mercosur countries for a 5-year period are analysed and the trends in trade in the analysed products and the most important traded products are outlined. The impact of the agreement on the poultry and cattle sectors has been analysed. Based on the analysis, the following summary conclusions are drawn: The elimination of customs duties on mutual trade between Bulgaria (respectively the EU) and the Mercosur countries will affect the livestock sector. With regard to the estimated tariff quota for beef for import into the EU, 99 000 tonnes of slaughter weight equivalent (CWE) divided by 55% fresh and 45% frozen by a quota rate of 7,5% on invoice value (volume the quotas will be allocated in six equal annual stages) – the announced quota cannot be expected to negatively affect the beef market in Bulgaria (and in the EU) due to the small volume that will increase the supply on the European market (in the 2018 The EU imported 162 295 tonnes of beef from Mercosur (fresh and chilled and frozen) and at the conclusion of the agreement this amount would be increased by 16,500 tons per year). The estimated tariff quota for duty-free imports of poultry meat into the EU – 180 000 tonnes of poultry meat divided into 50% bone-in meat and 50% boned meat, divided into six equal annual portions of 30 000 tonnes per year) – duty-free imports would double directions. On the one hand, it is possible to limit exports from Bulgaria to EU countries, provided that imported poultry meat is expected to be offered at competitive prices (exports of poultry meat from Bulgaria for 2018 are at an average price of 3.76 EUR/kg to the EU, with almost all of our exports to the EU countries, and Brazil exports to the EU mainly under code 020714 Edible cuts and offal from roosters and hens at an average price of US$ 1608/t or US$ 1,608/kg). On the other hand, these imports are likely to put pressure on domestic production (as a result of the loss of some of the quantities of chicken and duck meat sold abroad). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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