An independent TD has called on the government to “rigorously examine” the details of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement, and to oppose it if it threatens the Irish beef sector.
Sligo-Leitrim TD Marian Harkin has said she has “grave concerns” about the potential impact of the deal, particularly on the Irish suckler sector.
The deal would allow an additional 99,000t of beef from the Mercosur countries enter the EU tariff-free.
“If this were to happen and prime cuts of beef entered the EU market tariff-free it would simply cut the ground from under the Irish suckler herd. In the region I represent, the suckler herd, along with the sheep sector, is the backbone of farming.”
Over the last number of weeks, there have been suggestions from several quarters that the agreement is quickly approaching finalisation by EU and Mercosur officials.
It is understood that, on a technical level, the details on the agreement are close to being agreed, but timelines on when and how EU member states will have their say on the deal are less certain.
The possibility of this trade agreement has been discussed within the EU for around 25 years, and has faced much opposition in that time, including from Harkin herself when she was an MEP from 2010 to 2014.
Harkin said: “During my time in the European Parliament, I worked…with many others to ensure the Mercosur deal at that time did not go ahead, and it was successfully halted.”
However, the TD said that the deal that was reached in principle in 2019 is very much back on the table and seems likely to proceed.
She called on the government to insist that each EU member state be given a final vote on the agreement.
It is understood that whether or not member states are given a chance to reject the deal will depend on the exact content of the deal, and whether or not the agreement confers any responsibilities on member states that are not in the EU’s competency.
Harkin also called on the government to work closely with France on the issue, where, like in Ireland, there is a great deal of opposition to the deal.
“The Taoiseach needs to restate that the technical arrangements of this deal will protect our prime beef cuts from unfair competition in the EU market.
“There is, of course, also the issue that an area of the Amazon rainforest has been cut down to provide space for ranches and feedlots where cattle for the EU market will be reared. At the same time, Irish and EU farmers must operate under strict regulations from an agricultural perspective, an environmental perspective and an animal welfare perspective,” the independent TD said.
“They have to abide by directives on everything from soil quality to biodiversity protection and from strict veterinary medicine rules to land use restrictions. In this context, expecting Irish and EU farmers to compete with beef exporters from Mercosur countries is totally unreasonable,” she added.
“There has been much talk of culling the national herd, but a poor Mercosur deal would accomplish that at one fell swoop,” she warned.