10 Amendments of Matt CARTHY related to 2018/2005(INI)
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. WelcomNotes the Commission cCommunication on a balanced and progressive trade policy to harness globalisation1 ; underlines the importance of this communication for a Europeanis concerned about the lack of attention this communication gives to the unequal effects of globalisation, including from the perspective of the agricultureal sector that, which is suffering from unbalanced competition on both the EU and foreign markets; _________________ 1 COM(2017)0492.
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that harnessing globalisation should involve both strengthening global discipline to prevent unfair competition and distortions of trade in agriculture, and avoiding undupreventing the exposure of sensitive EU agricultural sectors; demands that this be done by not exposing domestic goods to competition from imports of products that are not subject to similar standards, costs and constraints as regards, for example, environmental protection; measures to protect the environment, animal welfare measures including stocking densities, the use of hormones or antibiotics as growth promoters, and the use of substances in the preparation or processing of food products that are banned in the EU, to name a few;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that while trade agreements could open up opportunities for the promotion of some EU offensive interests with respect to processed and unprocessed food products, they also entail a significant risk for more sensitive EU agricultural sectors that are already crisis-hit or have been particularly exposed to price volatility and calls for Impact Assessments prepared by the European Commission prior to the opening of negotiations to specifically take into account these sensitivities;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes that for some agricultural sectors it is often the cumulative impact of a number of agreements as opposed to one free trade deal that has the ability to inflict damage on prices and production; in this regard therefore calls for the European Commission to regularly update the information it has with regard to the potential impact of increased competition;
Amendment 68 #
3b. Regrets the incompatibility of the European Commission's free trade agenda with its commitments to protect and preserve the small, family farm model; notes that the Commission's own Impact Assessments observe that increased market access for primary agriculture may negatively affect the standard of living and traditional lifestyle of small farmers in the EU and have adverse impacts on rural employment in terms of both skilled and unskilled agricultural labour1a _________________ 1aEuropean Commission Impact Assessment Accompanying the document Recommendation for a Council Decision authorising the opening of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand, 13.08.2017 at p 40
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses its serious concerns with respect to the possible conclusion of the ongoing free-trade negotiations with Mercosur involving major concessions in sectors such as beef, sugar and biofuels which couldwill endanger the viability of local production in certain parts of the EU and create a direct downward pressure on EU producer prices; recalls that the European Commission's 2016 Report on the Cumulative Economic Impact of Future Trade Agreements on EU Agriculture has forecast a steep drop in beef meat prices and drops in butter and sheep prices as a result of recently concluded and ongoing negotiations;
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Regrets that while agriculture is often used as a bargaining chip in these negotiations, the sector itself is given very little information until after the deals have already been made; deplores, in this respect, ongoing EU offers to increase the TRQ offered to the US for beef imports as a response to the threatened imposition of duties on European steel and aluminum;
Amendment 119 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the Commission’s initiative to create an advisory group on EU trade negotiations composed of representatives of stakeholders; insists on the need for the strong representation of EU farming organisations representing such amall farmers in this group.
Amendment 122 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Commission to keep a public register of all meetings held with interest groups and lobbyists regarding the negotiation of Free Trade Agreements;
Amendment 126 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Rejects recommendations to open multilateral negotiations to establish a multilateral court for the settlement of investment disputes, which has the potential to lower food safety and environmental standards.