Hungary’s Orban urges European farmers to resist cheap imports

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has urged European farmers to unite against cheap grain imports from Ukraine and Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia), saying such trade policies undermine local producers and benefit traders rather than EU farmers.

Orban made the remarks on the social media platform X, stating, "There is a quiet battle raging in Europe between traders and producers. Cheap imports from Mercosur and Ukraine serve traders, not our farmers. If local agriculture is not protected, sovereignty is lost. It’s time for European farmers to stand together!"

🌾 There is a quiet battle raging in Europe between traders and producers. Cheap imports from Mercosur and Ukraine serve traders, not our farmers. If local agriculture is not protected, sovereignty is lost. It’s time for European farmers to stand together! pic.twitter.com/uUNDaSufQ0

— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) January 25, 2026

His comments follow the signing of a free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur on January 17. Several farmer associations and agricultural groups across Europe have voiced concerns that the deal could flood EU markets with inexpensive agricultural products from South America.

In response to these trade decisions, the parliamentary group Patriots initiated a third vote of no confidence in European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, accusing her of ignoring the interests of European farmers. The motion was ultimately rejected.

Former NATO intelligence chief Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven also warned that potential EU membership for Ukraine could create “significant problems” for the bloc’s agriculture and economy, arguing such a move would contradict the interests of European farmers.

By Vugar Khalilov