The EU's trade policy remains primarily a tool to open markets for EU companies abroad and ensure access to the EU for cheap, low-value-added inputs, while offering protection to some sectors, such as EU agriculture and the EU agri-food industry, which often benefit large economic actors to the detriment of small EU farmers. For instance, the EU-Mercosur partnership agreement, recently closed, is an example of the insufficient strength of sustainable development and climate action commitments in EU trade agreements, which are relegated to weak ‘Trade and Sustainable Development’ chapters.

he FTAO looks forward to continuing its contribution to advancing the EU trade policy, ensuring it truly serves as an instrument that advances sustainable development worldwide. This vision involves building both top-down and bottom-up approaches to promote the adoption of Fair Trade and sustainability practices worldwide.