On 22 December, Polish President Karol Nawrocki warned that the EU‑Mercosur trade agreement would flood Poland with low‑quality imports, and urged Prime Minister Donald Tusk to form a veto bloc.
EU‑Mercosur Agreement Threatens Polish Farmers
The president said the pact would involve thousands of products that could damage Polish agriculture and other sectors. He described the protective clauses as “nothing to change,” comparing them to setting up a rain gutter before a tsunami.
Nawrocki Cites Unfair Competition
He argued that trading products from Polish and European producers with non‑European firms creates “unfair competition” and lower quality. The president claimed that the past mistake in China’s trade relations is now being repeated.
Appeal to Donald Tusk
Nawrocki begged Tusk to rebuild a blocking minority, insisting that acceptance of the deal would be a catastrophe. He called on the prime minister to act rather than discuss the issue.
Background on the Deal
The EU was slated to sign the agreement with Mercosur by year’s end, but the deadline has been pushed to 2026. Some EU members, including Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and France’s Emmanuel Macron, pushed for the delay. Protesters fear the pact will flood the European market with South‑American goods, reducing demand for European products.
