A vision to operationalise a sustainable agricultural trade regime

The Brief explores pathways to promote a sustainable agricultural trade regime for the EU. We identify three challenges and propose three potential paths forward. We discuss potential implications of the polluters-pay principle for fertilizers, as in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The Brief delves on responsibilities across value chains, as evidenced in the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), and the Corporate Reporting and Classification Framework (CRCF). Additionally, we focus on efforts to preserve natural resources, through sustainability provisions in trade agreements and the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). We close by commenting on the challenges attached to the proposed paths.