According to reports from The Hindu BusinessLine, Copa-Cogeca, an influential lobby group representing the European Union agricultural sector, has called for the EU to impose safeguard mechanisms to rescue rice farmers and ensure their survival. The Belgium-headquartered body issued a statement on Thursday, stating that the EU granted preferential access for rice from other countries into its domestic market, which would destabilise the EU market. The group emphasized that imports from Cambodia, Myanmar, India, and Thailand have placed sustained pressure on EU producers, threatening a sector that is essential for rural employment, environmental stewardship, and the production of high-quality, sustainable food. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, Copa-Cogeca stated that these policy developments highlight a clear global trend: even competitive rice-producing countries are facing destabilising import surges and are seeking tools to ensure fair market conditions.
As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, information released this week showed that US policymakers have warned that surging imports and unfair trade practices from major international producers are eroding the domestic rice market and threatening farm viability. According to the report, imports have increased by more than 250 per cent over the past two decades. The group highlighted that Morocco has launched a safeguard investigation after rice imports more than doubled in just a few years, causing serious harm to national production. The Philippines is also taking steps to activate protective measures in response to similar pressures, demonstrating a clear global trend of competitive rice-producing countries facing destabilising import surges. Copa-Cogeca noted that rice-producing countries around the world are raising concerns over increasing pressure on their domestic sectors, with the challenge significantly affecting Europe as well.
According to The Hindu BusinessLine, ahead of next week's European Parliament vote on the Generalised System of Preferences, European rice farmers are calling for a balanced and proportionate response. Copa-Cogeca stated that European rice farmers are seeking support for a reduction of the threshold for the automatic safeguard agreed upon in the trilogue agreement in December 2025. The group emphasized that the objective is not to restrict trade, but to ensure that the EU rice sector can continue to play its crucial role in maintaining vibrant rural areas and delivering high standards of food production. Copa-Cogeca stressed that there is therefore an urgent need for the European Union to move forward with safeguard mechanisms to ensure the survival of a historic sector in several member States, highlighting the urgency of addressing this global challenge facing European agriculture.
