The Minister of the Presidency of the Generalitat, Albert Dalmau, inaugurated the Olive Oil Fair in Les Borges Blanques this Friday. He argued that the trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur could be a key opportunity for the Catalan economy, especially to diversify markets in the face of aggressive tariff policies from the United States.
Dalmau stressed the importance of implementing mirror clauses and guaranteeing strict quality standards for all products entering the EU. According to the minister, current tariffs pose a direct threat to the Catalan primary sector, which is highly export-oriented.
“"The Government has been very firm: we will stand by the livestock, agricultural, and fishing sectors of Catalonia, obviously defending mirror clauses and the quality of products entering Catalonia, but we must also understand it as an opportunity for an export-driven economy."
Regarding the olive oil sector, Dalmau highlighted the promotional work carried out by the Government to boost the five Catalan designations of origin. He cited as examples the fair in Les Borges Blanques itself, the National Olive Oil Awards, and promotional activities in Plaça Catalunya in Barcelona.
The minister concluded that these initiatives serve to champion a quality product that is also a way of understanding the country and the territorial cohesion of Catalonia. He also referred to the current challenges facing the agricultural sector, such as the modernization of farms and irrigation systems.
