EU Mercosur trade pact approval raises concerns for Greek rice growers facing price collapse
Greek rice producers face new competition as the EU-Mercosur pact allows duty-free imports. Local growers already struggle with severe price declines.
Insights:
European Union 
EUmember states approved the EU-Mercosur trade agreement last week, paving the way for the landmark deal to be signed this Saturday, January 18, 2026. The pact between Europe and the Mercosur economies of Brazil 
BR, Argentina 
AR, Paraguay 
PY, and Uruguay 
UYincludes provisions to import 60,000 tons of duty-free rice over the next five years. While the European Commission describes these imports as a small fraction of total annual consumption, the announcement has intensified economic anxieties for agricultural producers in Greece 
GRwho are already struggling with a saturated market.
EUmember states approved the EU-Mercosur trade agreement last week, paving the way for the landmark deal to be signed this Saturday, January 18, 2026. The pact between Europe and the Mercosur economies of Brazil BR, Argentina AR, Paraguay PY, and Uruguay UYincludes provisions to import 60,000 tons of duty-free rice over the next five years. While the European Commission describes these imports as a small fraction of total annual consumption, the announcement has intensified economic anxieties for agricultural producers in Greece GRwho are already struggling with a saturated market.
