MEP Vicent Marzà the European Commission called on the European Commission on 4 November 2026 to activate the bilateral safeguard clause under Article 34 of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the SADC countries In a parliamentary question to the Commission, the Compromís politician points to a sharp increase in imports of small citrus fruit from South Africa, which, he says, is putting European production under pressure at the start of the season.
As evidence, Marzà cites official figures from Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture: EU imports of small citrus fruit from South Africa rose from 78,170 tonnes in the 2020/21 season to 169,904 tonnes in the 2025/26 season, up to and including July. The increase is particularly marked in September and October, coinciding with the start of the European marketing season. In the Comunidad Valenciana, a key area for small citrus production, particularly in the provinces of Castellón and Valencia, growers are therefore seeing lower farm-gate prices and marketing difficulties for early varieties.
According to Marzà, activating the safeguard clause could lead to temporary stabilisation measures. He is also calling for interim steps to ease pressure on the market during the current season. In recent months, the Generalitat Valenciana and several producer organisations had made similar demands of the Spanish government and the European Commission.
The agreement between the European Union and the SADC states provides for safeguard instruments if imports cause or threaten to cause serious market disruption. However, their use requires the European Commission to formally initiate a procedure, assess the case and respond proportionately. Depending on the outcome of the assessment, possible measures range from time-limited restrictions to tariff adjustments. Such a move would put political strain on trade relations with South Africa and would have to be compatible with the objectives of European trade policy.
As of 4 November 2026, the European Commission had made no decisions. Any statements about the nature or timing of possible interim measures are therefore speculative. What is clear is that the initiative from Valencia comes amid weak producer prices at the start of the season, increasing political pressure in Spain and the European Parliament.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).