Finance
Italy Wants Stricter 5% Safeguard Trigger in Mercosur Deal, Minister Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 8, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
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Italy aims for a 5% import safeguard in the Mercosur deal, seeking stricter EU standards. The decision could impact the EU vote.
Italy Advocates for Stricter Safeguard in Mercosur Deal
ROME, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Italy wants a stricter threshold for the suspension of imports under the planned Mercosur trade agreement, its agriculture minister said in an interview published on Thursday, ahead of an EU vote on the treaty where Rome's stance could prove decisive.
Francesco Lollobrigida told financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore that Rome was pushing to lower the point at which safeguard clauses would be triggered, reducing it to 5% from the 8% currently proposed.
Under the mechanism, the agreement would be suspended if imports from Latin America rose above that threshold or if European agricultural prices fell by more than the same amount.
"We want this 8% threshold to be lowered to 5%. And we believe there are the conditions to achieve this result," Lollobrigida was quoted as saying.
He also said Italy's diplomats were carrying out final technical and political checks after receiving initial guarantees on food‑safety reciprocity, an issue Rome has long raised. Italy wants to ensure that farm products imported into the EU meet the same standards required of EU producers.
"We're down to the last mile," he said, adding that EU countries will review progress at a meeting of member‑state representatives (Coreper) on Friday.
(Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
Key Takeaways
- •Italy wants a 5% threshold for import suspension in the Mercosur deal.
- •The current proposed threshold is 8%.
- •Italy seeks food-safety reciprocity in EU imports.
- •EU countries to review the proposal in an upcoming meeting.
- •Italy's stance could influence the EU vote on the treaty.
Frequently Asked Questions about Italy wants stricter 5% safeguard trigger in Mercosur deal, minister says
1What is a safeguard clause?
A safeguard clause is a provision in a trade agreement that allows a country to restrict imports temporarily if they cause serious injury to domestic industries.
2What is the Mercosur trade agreement?
The Mercosur trade agreement is a regional trade bloc in South America that includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, aimed at promoting free trade and economic integration.
3What is the role of the EU in trade agreements?
The EU plays a crucial role in negotiating and implementing trade agreements on behalf of its member states, aiming to enhance economic cooperation and market access.
4What is an import threshold?
An import threshold is a specified level of imports at which certain trade measures, such as tariffs or quotas, are triggered to protect domestic industries.
