Finance
Poland Says It Will Challenge Mercosur Trade Deal in EU's Top Court
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 24, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 24, 2026
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Poland intends to file a legal challenge at the EU’s Court of Justice against the Mercosur trade deal, citing risks to farmers, food safety, and domestic markets. The EU plan to provisionally apply the agreement from May 1 remains in place.
Poland Plans Legal Action Against EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement Over Farmer Concerns
Poland's Opposition to the EU-Mercosur Trade Deal
Background and Context
WARSAW, April 24 (Reuters) - Poland will file a complaint to the European Union's top court about the bloc's free trade agreement with South America, Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Friday, as Warsaw tries to stop a deal it says will harm farmers.
Along with France, Poland has been one of the strongest opponents of the deal with the Mercosur bloc.
Arguments For and Against the Agreement
Its proponents say it will improve market access for European manufacturers but critics say it would sharply increase imports of cheap beef, sugar and poultry and undercut domestic producers.
The European Parliament also voted in January to refer the deal to the top court.
Official Statements and Legal Actions
"Poland will file a complaint against the European Union-Mercosur agreement with the Court of Justice of the European Union," Kosiniak-Kamysz was quoted as telling reporters by state news agency PAP.
He said that Warsaw had until May 26 to file the complaint.
"We believe that food security, consumer safety, and the protection of our own market are at risk," he was quoted as saying.
Next Steps and Provisional Application
The European Commission said in March that the agreement would apply on a provisional basis from May 1.
(Reporting by Alan CharlishEditing by Tomasz Janowski)
Key Takeaways
- •Poland will lodge a complaint before the Court of Justice of the European Union against the EU‑Mercosur free trade agreement by the May 26 deadline, citing food security and domestic market concerns. (euronews.com)
- •The European Commission will provisionally apply the trade deal from May 1, despite parliamentary referral to the court, enabling tariff reductions between the EU and Mercosur countries that completed ratification by March. (euronews.com)
- •Poland, alongside France and parts of the agricultural sector, remains among the strongest opponents, fearing the deal will flood EU markets with cheaper imports—especially beef, sugar, and poultry—potentially undermining local producers. (lemonde.fr)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Poland says it will challenge Mercosur trade deal in EU's top court
1Why is Poland challenging the EU-Mercosur trade deal?
Poland is challenging the EU-Mercosur trade deal because it believes the agreement will harm domestic farmers by increasing imports of cheap beef, sugar, and poultry.
2Who announced Poland's intent to challenge the Mercosur agreement?
Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced Poland's intent to file a complaint with the EU's top court.
3What is the main concern for Polish farmers regarding the Mercosur deal?
The main concern is that increased imports of agricultural products from Mercosur countries will undercut Polish producers and threaten food security.
4When does Poland have to file its complaint against the trade agreement?
Poland has until May 26 to file its complaint with the Court of Justice of the European Union.
5Which other EU country has strongly opposed the Mercosur trade agreement?
France, like Poland, has been one of the strongest opponents of the trade deal with the Mercosur bloc.
