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On 21/08/2025, the EU and the US announced a joint statement on a framework for reciprocity and fair, balanced trade. Farm Europe says agriculture pays: the Commission secured a US tariff cap at 15% (down from a 30% threat) but the EU granted preferential access for US agri-food, including dairy, fruit and vegetables, and pork, without corresponding exemptions for EU exporters. Copa-Cogeca and others see no tangible benefits: EU products gain market access but no major exemptions, while agriculture was a bargaining chip for automotive and industrial concessions. The EU also failed to obtain an exemption from new US tariffs on wines and spirits, which will face the 15% duty applied to most EU products from 01/09/2025. This hits a sector exporting about €9 billion annually to the US, nearly €5 billion of which is wine. The Commission says talks will continue; France and other Member States seek an exemption, but producers warn of heavy losses. Italian associations say more than €2 billion in annual wine revenues are at risk. Impacts vary: Pecorino Romano, recently duty free, will face 15%; Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano revert from 25% to 15%; the Italian dairy sector estimates losses around €25 million per year. Premium products such as Spanish Pata Negra ham or olive oil may be less affected, but cheaper meats, sausages and products sold to hotels and restaurants are likely to be hit harder. For beer, a 50% surcharge on aluminium packaging will be added.

The European Commission unveiled on 16 July 2025 a proposal to introduce degressivity in direct payments under the post-2027 CAP, setting a €100,000 annual cap on area payments and applying reductions from €20,000 upwards. Agriculture and Food Commissioner Christoph Hansen said the aim is to free funds for young and emerging farmers and small farms. Politico reported that in 2023, 20% of EU farms received 80% of direct payments, with over half the funds going to farms receiving above €20,000; much of that spending would fall under the cap. Impact would be greatest in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, where farms over 50 hectares control more than 90% of agricultural land and over 85% of payments affected; in Greece about 90% of funds go to farms receiving less than €20,000, so effects would be minimal. The Commission proposes a mandatory average support rate for degressive income support between €130 and €240 per hectare, with 25% reductions for the €20,000–€50,000 tranche and 50% for €50,000–€70,000. Think tank Farm Europe argues the measure mainly targets large farms—the backbone of European agricultural production—and is fiscal tightening without real equity gains, while the European Environmental Bureau welcomes redistribution and a shift from area-based aid toward results and environmental benefits. Negotiations between the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament will begin in autumn 2025.

On 12 August 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron signed the Duplomb-Ménonville law aiming to simplify agricultural practices. The law does not reauthorise acetamiprid, a pesticide banned since 2020, reflecting continued concerns over its use. Key changes include abolishing the department responsible for plant protection product sales and advisory services, mandating separation of invoicing for products and services, and updating advisory frameworks. Environmental inspection and penalty procedures have been revised, and biodiversity inspectors are now allowed to use cameras during inspections. Livestock breeding project approvals and insurance for permanent grassland are simplified. In water management, a presumption of significant public interest now applies to reservoirs in shortage areas. While the main farm union supports the law as a reduction in bureaucracy, strong opposition persists, with over two million signatures collected in a petition for repeal.
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The European Commission is planning a major reform of commercial practices in the food supply chain, set to be presented by the end of 2026. Key elements include officially designating the sale of agricultural products below production cost as an unfair commercial practice, a move intended to address repeated concerns from farmers about price pressures. An EU-wide consultation on revising the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive is scheduled for autumn 2025. Several Member States already have national controls in place, but a previous attempt to reach consensus among all Member States failed. Trade representatives argue the reform is being rushed. In parallel, a fast-track revision to strengthen rules on cross-border enforcement and international alliances is underway and has received Council and parliamentary support. Trialogue negotiations will begin in September 2025.
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The French Constitutional Council has rejected a provision in the Duplombe law that would have allowed the reauthorization of acetamiprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide banned in France since 2020 due to health and environmental risks. The Council ruled that the measure violated the constitutional right to a healthy environment as set out in the 2005 Environmental Charter. The Duplombe law, passed by the National Assembly in July 2025, aimed to relax agricultural regulations, but the contentious section would have permitted broader use of certain pesticides beyond high-risk production sectors. Acetamiprid remains legal in some EU Member States. Public opposition was strong, with over two million signatures against the law, leading the Council to uphold the complaint regarding environmental protection.
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