IFA president Joe Healy met European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan in Brussels last week and discussed the latest update on the Mercosur negotiations.

He said with reports from Brussels that the Brazilians are looking for much more access in the Mercosur negotiations, beyond the 70,000t already offered, Healy said: “European Commissioner for Trade Cecelia Malmström cannot be allowed to give away any more. The commissioner has already capitulated to the Brazilians in these negotiations, moving from 45,000t to 70,000t and Europe should go no further.”

Healy said European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan has made it clear that the 70,000t is the only formal offer from the Commission.

The commissioner has to dig in on this and cannot allow Malmström to up the offer.

IFA national livestock chair Angus Woods said Commissioner Hogan has to face down Malmström and insist that the EU does not give any more concessions to the Brazilians.

Stop

He said: “Commissioner Malmström has already conceded way too much. Ireland, using all diplomatic and political channels, and Commissioner Hogan need to say bluntly, ‘this has to stop’.’’

Woods said talk of the European Commission renegotiating existing Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) and giving further concessions to the Brazilians is nothing short of a three-card trick. “Commissioner Hogan must dig in and stop Commissioner Malmström in her tracks from conceding on the double to Brazil.

“The negotiating strategy flies in the face of everything that the EU stands for, and what is happening in terms of Brexit.”

He accused Malmström of blatantly undermining European policy and values.