The draft regulation sets out how, in the context of the Mercosur trade agreement, the European Commission could decide to temporarily suspend tariff preferences on the import of certain agricultural products considered sensitive (such as poultry or beef) from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay if these imports are seen to be harming EU producers.

The most important measures agreed are:

• An increase in import volume of more than 8% compared to the three-year average would be evidence of serious injury and would trigger an investigation into suspending preferential tariffs
• A decrease in prices of more than 8% compared to the three-year average would also be treated as serious injury and give reason to start an investigation.
• The Commission may extend the scope of its monitoring to non-sensitive products, upon request by the EU industry.
• Investigations should be concluded within at least 6 months in the case of non-sensitive products and as quickly as possible but certainly…