European Commission Daily News 6th May
Latest agri-food trade figures released: EU agri-food trade declines in January 2021
The latest monthly agri-food trade report released today shows the EU’s agri-food exports fell by 11% compared to January 2020, reaching a total value of € 13.5 billion. This decline comes after a longer period of continuous increase in exports. For the same period, imports reached a value of 9.1 billion euros, 16% less than in January 2020. This resulted in an agri-food trade surplus from January 2021 to 4.4 billion euros. euros, an increase of 3.6% compared to January 2020. The value of exports to China increased by 146 million euros, driven by growing demand for pork and coarse grains, as well as rapeseed and sunflower oils. Increased export values were also recorded for Chile, Pakistan and Norway. EU exports to the UK decreased in value by € 792 million compared to January 2020. Declines were also recorded in the value of exports to the US, Russia, Japan and Saudi Arabia. Regarding imports, their value from the United Kingdom fell by 874 million euros compared to January 2020. Further declines were recorded in the values of imports from Argentina, the United States and the United States. Indonesia. However, values increased for imports from Malaysia, India, Brazil and Nigeria. In terms of product categories, the value of exports of pet food increased by 17 million euros, with increases also recorded for rapeseed and sunflower oils, citrus fruits, meal and paste and cocoa powder. However, export values declined for product categories such as wine, infant foods, vegetable and fruit preparations, chocolate and confectionery. The full report is available online and more information on agrifood policy can be found here.
Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans attends Petersberg Climate Dialogue
Tomorrow 7 May, Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans participates in the 12th Petersberg Climate Dialogue, an annual high-level political meeting of over 30 ministers from around the world, co-hosted by the German government and the COP26 Presidency. The meeting will start at 14:00 CEST today with remarks by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Their speeches will be live-streamed here. This year’s Petersberg Dialogue will focus on the preparations for the upcoming COP26 climate conference in Glasgow. It will address pressing issues such as enhancing countries’ climate-resilience and adaptation capacity, scaling up international climate finance, and promoting transparent international carbon market rules. The meeting will be held virtually for the second year in a row due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Commission will publish Executive Vice-President Timmermans‘ remarks climate finance on Friday here. For more information see here.
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