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Irish Independent MEP Marian Harkin voted against the trade deal in Strasbourg on Wednesday and said she was very concerned that it is going ahead.
“We could be looking at the perfect storm for the suckler beef herd,” she told the Irish Farmers Journal.
When negotiations began before the UK’s vote on Brexit there were 63 million more people factored into discussions: “That has now changed but that (Brexit) hasn’t been taken into consideration.”
“The suckler beef herd is in real danger and there are so many things happening at once. You couldn’t have made it up.”
The Independent MEP said that although there are claims it will lead to more jobs, it is not clear where they will be or in what sector.
“This is sure to lead to jobs losses and sectors being hit.”
Canadian beef imports
Also opposed to CETA is Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy, who said it will devastate Irish agriculture.
“It will further distort trade and wealth in favour of larger multinational corporations at the expense of indigenous business.
“Coupled with other EU trade deals coming down the line, CETA will be devastating for Irish agriculture, farming families and rural communities.
“There are huge implications now for the Irish beef sector which will face the prospect of 50,000t of Canadian beef imports.”
He also criticised the EU Commission for intending to “provisionally apply” key aspects of the agreement immediately before national parliaments have any say on it.
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