Planas: Agreement with Mercosur represents a great opportunity for Spanish wine producers

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, during his speech at the event

Luis Planas highlighted the business opportunity that the agreement with Mercosur will mean for Spanish wine producers. "Tariffs of up to 35% are currently applied to EU wines entering Mercosur countries, tariffs which will be progressively eliminated," Planas explained. For example, on sparkling wines, tariffs will disappear with the entry into force of the agreement.

Luis Planas recalled that the European wine sector strongly supports the agreement because it guarantees its long-term economic sustainability. In Spain, it will translate into an opportunity for market diversification and export growth, both in value and reputation. Furthermore, the agreement is in line with the environmental commitments of the sector, which is particularly committed to sustainability and sustainable development.

Planas has visited the 5th edition of the Barcelona Wine Week fair, in which more than 1,200 wineries from all over Spain are taking part. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, together with ICEX, supports the Hosted Buyers initiative which allows the presence at the fair of 800 international buyers from strategic countries around the world.

In addition, the ministry is sponsoring the Wine Tasting Journey space, in which 80 wineries are participating and the 5 wines that received the Alimentos de España 2024 awards are on display.

Luis Planas recalled the need for the sector to adapt to new social trends and valued the professionalism, innovation and strength of the wine sector, a strategic sector because of its weight in the economy, but also because of its contribution to territorial cohesion and the development of our towns and rural areas.

In fact, the sector as a whole generates more than 400,000 jobs with a turnover that represents 1.9% of Spain's gross value added. Planas pointed out that, with more than 900,000 hectares, Spain is the world's largest vineyard, the third largest wine-producing country, the second largest exporter in volume and the third largest in value, with a presence in 189 countries.

In addition, Luis Planas mentioned the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's ongoing support for the sector, accompanying it in its process of renewal and modernisation with the aim of increasing its competitiveness and successfully tackling the challenges it faces. "If there is one sector that has been able to adapt to climate change, it has been the wine sector," the minister acknowledged.

Promotion is a strategic line of support for the sector. Planas recalled the ministry's commitment to the Alimentos de España brand as "our calling card for the promotion of foodstuffs abroad", among which wine occupies a prominent place. In addition, at the international level, the campaigns that the ministry is developing with ICEX under the slogan Spain Food Nation and the European Union's promotional programmes aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the wine sector are of particular note.

Non official translation