Some 80% of the 885 farmers surveyed by the Irish Farmers Journal are concerned about the possible impacts of an EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, with 15% having no opinion and only 5% of farmers unconcerned.

A political deal has been signed between the European Commission and the Mercosur countries which would allow 99,000t of South American beef low-tariff access to EU markets.

However, this deal needs the approval of member states and MEPs to take effect.

Concern was strongest among the beef finishers surveyed; 85% of whom reported to be concerned, the most of these being ‘very concerned’ at the prospect of the deal.

The enterprise type with the next highest level of concern was sheep, where 82% of those surveyed stated they had concerns, followed by dairy at 80%.

This is despite attempts from Brussels to reassure dairy farmers that the cutting of Mercosur countries’ import tariffs for EU dairy products could represent a gain for dairy farmers here.

Commissioner

This position on dairy was reiterated by European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen when pushed by the Irish Farmers Journal in December on his response to Irish farmers’ opposition to the deal in the week after it had been signed.

Some 43% of suckler farmers stated they are very concerned at the prospect of a deal while another 35% were concerned but did not select the strongest concern response option provided.

Tillage farmers also expressed significant concern with the deal – marginally more than suckler farmers did – with 79% being concerned over an agreement between the EU and Mercosur.