The EU plans to crackdown on food imports that do not meet its standards as part of an agricultural policy review to be published Wednesday that looks to appease disgruntled farmers amid global trade tensions.

The European Commission is due to unveil a new blueprint for a sector that despite gobbling up a third of the bloc's budget has long resented Brussels's liberal approach to trade.

Months of protests last year saw farmers irked at regulatory burdens, squeezed revenues and what they see as unfair competition from less-regulated overseas rivals, hurling eggs, spraying manure and blocking the Belgian capital's streets.

Following consultations with farming lobby groups and environmental NGOs, the "Vision for Agriculture and Food" promises to address some of those concerns.

To ensure that the agricultural sector is not "put at a competitive disadvantage", the commission will pursue "a stronger alignment of production standards applied to imported products," according to a draft of the text seen by AFP.

In particular, Brussels will see to it that "the most hazardous pesticides banned in the EU for health and environmental reasons" are not allowed back in "through imported products".

The draft does not specify a timeline for that or what products or countries could be affected.

"The first mission of this vision is to reduce tensions and calm all parties," said Luc Vernet of Farm Europe, a think tank, noting the text was "extremely cautious".

The prospect of a potential ban on some imports could ruffle feathers abroad against the backdrop of a looming trade conflict.

The Financial Times reported this week U.S. crops such as soybean could be targeted, after President Donald Trump unveiled duties that could hit European exports.

European farmers have also been uneasy at a trade deal with Latin America's Mercosur the commission announced in December.