Brazil Threatens Reciprocal Steps as EU Suspends Animal Product Imports
Brazil warns of reciprocal measures after the EU suspends imports of its animal products over antimicrobial and traceability concerns.
Brazil's government has signalled it may take reciprocal action after the European Union formally suspended imports of Brazilian beef, poultry, eggs, honey and other animal products. The suspension, announced on Tuesday, took effect on Thursday, following the expiry of an EU deadline.
The EU had informed Brazil in May that it would be removed from the list of countries authorised to export certain animal products to the bloc. Brussels argues that Brazil has not provided sufficient guarantees that its livestock production complies with EU rules against antibiotic growth promoters and other restricted antimicrobial drugs.
The move hits the world's largest beef exporter hard. Official figures show Brazil shipped roughly 108,000 tonnes of beef worth about $1 billion to the EU in 2025.
Brazil's agriculture ministry said in a statement that it "reserves the right to resort to appropriate instruments to ensure balanced trade conditions, including reciprocity measures provided for under the national legal framework." It also cited mechanisms in the Mercosur-European Union agreement and the multilateral trading system.
Industry bodies have reacted strongly. The Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (ABIEC) said the suspension was concerning for local producers and failed to recognise the quality of Brazilian beef exports, which reach 170 countries. The Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil has also written to the foreign ministry, arguing that the EU's action nullifies trade benefits Brazil legitimately expected.
Economist Robson Gonçalves of Fundação Getulio Vargas described the EU measure as a political barrier aimed at protecting European agribusiness from Mercosur's competitiveness. He expects further EU actions until the Mercosur-EU free trade agreement, signed in January, is fully implemented. The deal is currently provisional, pending a ruling by the European Court of Justice.
Brazil is the only Mercosur member affected by the suspension. The EU has not yet responded to requests for comment.