Thousands of Irish farmers protest against Mercosur trade deal | International trade news

Thousands of Irish farmers took to the streets to protest against a trade agreement between the European Union and South American bloc Mercosur, a day after a majority of EU member states gave provisional approval to the long-negotiated deal.

In the central town of Athlone, tractors took to the roads on Saturday as farmers across Ireland gathered to demonstrate against the deal, holding signs reading “Stop EU-Mercosur” and chanting slogans accusing EU leaders of sacrifice. their interests.

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The protests came after Ireland, France, Poland, Hungary and Austria voted against the deal on Friday, but failed to block it.

The agreement, more than 25 years of preparationwould create one of the world’s largest free trade zones, boosting trade between the 27 EU countries and the Mercosur countries Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Under the deal, Mercosur would export agricultural products and minerals to Europe, while the EU would export machinery, chemicals and pharmaceuticals at reduced tariffs.

Although the deal has been welcomed by business groups, it has encountered strong pushback from European farmers, who fear their livelihoods will be undermined by cheaper imports from South America, particularly agricultural powerhouse Brazil.

Irish farmers have been particularly opposed to the deal, warning that the deal could allow an additional 99,000 tonnes of low-cost beef to enter the EU market, disrupting the Irish agricultural sector.

Beef and dairy are major employers in Ireland, and many farmers say they already struggle to earn a sustainable income.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), the country’s main agricultural lobby group, described this week’s decision by member states as “very disappointing”.

The group said it would redouble its efforts to defeat the deal in the European Parliament, which still needs to approve the deal before it can come into force.

“We expect Irish MEPs to support the farming community and reject the Mercosur deal,” IFA President Francie Gorman said in a statement.

“Serious consequences”

At Saturday’s protest in Athlone, farmers expressed their anger and anxiety about the future of rural Ireland.

Joe Keogh, a farmer from the nearby village of Multyfarnham, told the Reuters news agency the deal would be devastating for farming communities.

“It is an absolute disgrace on the part of the farmers and citizens who have allowed Europe to be where it is today,” he said. “It’s going to shut down the whole campaign.”

Others raised concerns about food quality and production standards.

Earlier in the week, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said he was concerned that beef imported under the Mercosur deal would not be produced in accordance with the EU’s strict environmental standards.

“We need to be sure” that the rules and obligations imposed on Irish farmers will not be undermined by imports produced under less stringent regulations, he said.

Protesters echoed these concerns. On Saturday, signs read: “Our cows follow the rules, why not theirs? and “Don’t sacrifice family farms for German cars”, reflecting fears that agriculture would be sacrificed for other European industries.

The protest followed similar demonstrations on Friday in Poland, France and Belgium, highlighting widespread unease among farmers across Europe.

Although opponents have won concessions and compensation measures for European farmers, Ireland and France have pledged to continue fighting the deal as it heads towards a potentially close and unpredictable vote in the European Parliament.

For many farmers on the streets of Athlone, the issue goes beyond trade.

“It’s about the quality of the food we eat,” Niamh O’Brien, a farmer from Athenry in western Ireland, told Reuters. “This has serious implications for both the farmer and the consumer.”