Up to
1,500 farmers gathered outside the EU Commission office in Dublin on Wednesday to express their anger over a proposed trade deal with Mercosur. The deal would see an additional 70,000t of beef and 78,000t of poultry enter the EU without being subject to tariffs.
Up to 1,500 farmers gathered outside the EU Commission office in Dublin on Wednesday to express their anger over a proposed trade deal with Mercosur.
The deal would see an additional 70,000t of beef and 78,000t of poultry enter the EU without being subject to tariffs.
IFA president Joe Healy, addressing the crowd, accused EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström, of driving a deal that would be detrimental to farmers.
He said “it was not acceptable that she wants to sell out Irish and European farmers at any cost”.
The proposed deal could have a negative effect on farmgate prices and permit sub-standard meat into the EU food chain, he said.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed told the Irish Farmers Journal: “On the basis of what we have seen recently, there are serious concerns about the quality of beef coming in, particularly from Brazil.”
Several EU countries, led by Ireland and France, strongly opposed an offer being made on beef access in this round of negotiations.
The discussions are due to conclude in Brazil on Friday and it is thought with a beef offer now on the table, a deal could be concluded before the end of this year.
Despite opposition from beef-producing countries in the EU, it is reported that the Mercosur side are deeply unimpressed.
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