A European Commission source told the Irish Farmers Journal that the proposed tariff-rate quota for 78,000t of beef would be removed from the draft offer expected to be sent to Mercosur next week as trade negotiations open with the bloc of South American countries.

Reacting to the news, IFA president Joe Healy said he welcomes the removal of beef from the draft offer on Mercosur being considered by EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström.

“Any negotiating strategy based on concessions on sensitive products including beef was totally flawed and this was clear from the growing opposition that had emerged to the inclusion of beef among 20 member states at the Farm Council in April,” Healy said.

“IFA will continue to build alliances with other countries which share our real concerns about the impact of these negotiations,” the IFA president added.

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Association (ICSA) has expressed a more cautious welcome to the news, which comes in the wake of a protest by the organisation against the Mercosur and TTIP trade deals outside the European Commission offices in Dublin on Wednesday.

Objection

ICSA president Patrick Kent says he is hopeful that the European Commission will listen to the wave of objection to beef being sacrificed at the Mercosur talks.

“ICSA’s protest held outside the EU Commission office on Wednesday reflects a widespread opposition to the inclusion of substantial tariff rate quotas for beef in the Mercosur talks,” he said. “News emerging from Brussels suggests that the EU Commission is starting to pay attention to the opposition but we will wait to see what is included in the exchange of offers between the EU and Mercosur next Wednesday.”

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