Proposed EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Raises Concerns for Irish Farmers and Environment
An Irish MEP has voiced his concerns over the proposed EU-Mercosur trade deal, stating that it poses an existential threat to Irish farmers and the environment. Chris MacManus, a Sinn Féin MEP and member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, criticized Brussels for attempting to push through the free trade agreement (FTA). The EU and the Mercosur bloc of South American economies aim to finalize the trade deal this year, with both European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Brazilian President Lula da Silva reaffirming their commitment to ratify the agreement as soon as possible.
MacManus argued that the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement would be a betrayal of Irish farmers and the environment. Under the agreement, an additional 99,000 tonnes of beef from the South American trade association would enter the EU tariff-free, saturating the market at the expense of Irish farmers. He highlighted the lower sustainability, regulatory, and ethical standards applied to farmers outside of Europe, resulting in cheaper and lower quality products that are sourced and produced unsustainably.
The MEP emphasized the detrimental impact of the trade deal on the rainforests, stating that deforestation in 2019 alone exceeded 10,000km², which is over half the size of his home province, Connacht. MacManus argued that the EU-Mercosur trade deal primarily benefits multinationals, disregarding the interests of farmers, human rights, and the rainforests. He called for mutual cooperation and understanding between farmers and environmentalists, asserting that this principle and practice should be pursued by all sides.
MacManus criticized the illogicality of burning down South American rainforests to create farmland, only to ship thousands of tonnes of inferior meat thousands of miles to undercut European producers. He urged Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party to clarify their stance on the deal. The EU-Mercosur FTA was agreed upon in 2019 but has faced obstacles in its ratification due to concerns raised by member states, including Ireland. These concerns revolve around deforestation in Brazil, the potential impact of imports on the EU beef market, and the imposition of stricter standards on EU farmers compared to primary producers in the Mercosur countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Earlier this year, the EU sent a letter to the Mercosur countries seeking more commitments on sustainability and climate change.
This proposed trade deal has sparked a heated debate surrounding its potential consequences for Irish farmers and the environment. As discussions continue, it remains to be seen how these concerns will be addressed and whether the EU-Mercosur trade deal will ultimately be ratified.