Budapest: Hungary will vote against the proposed EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced, citing concerns over the impact on Hungarian farmers' livelihoods.

According to Anadolu Agency - English, Szijjarto expressed his concerns on the US social media platform X, stating that the European Commission was advancing an agreement that would allow unlimited imports of South American agricultural products into European markets. He emphasized that Budapest strongly opposes the agreement in its current form, which he believes would adversely affect Hungarian farmers.

The trade agreement aims to enable preferential tariffs for imports of beef, poultry, dairy products, sugar, and ethanol from South American countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia. In return, European industrial goods would receive greater access to South American markets. Initially set for a December signing, the deal has been delayed to the new year due to opposition from member states like France and Italy, who share concerns over its agricultural implications.

Discontent with the agreement is not isolated to Hungary. Mid-December saw farmers from several European countries, including France and Italy, rally in Brussels. They warned that the Mercosur tariff preferences could potentially damage European agriculture, underscoring the widespread resistance to the proposed deal.