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It would be “madness” in the current political climate in terms of Brexit for EU negotiators to make any offer to New Zealand at this time in the EU-NZ trade negotiations, IFA sheep chair Seán Dennehy has said.
Dennehy said New Zealand is only filling about half of its existing 228,254t quota on sheepmeat into the EU in recent years.
“There is no basis to increase the New Zealand tariff rate quota on sheepmeat. Any attempt to do so can only be interpreted by European sheep farmers as a sell-out or a sacrifice of the sector for benefits in other trade areas,” he said.
Historic volumes
On Brexit, Dennehy said the EU has to insist that the traditional historic volumes going from New Zealand into the UK market go with the UK, and in turn are removed from the EU quota.
“In practice, this would mean that the EU quota post-Brexit would halve. This has to be part of Brexit and any new trade deal between the EU and NZ.”
Dennehy said he has discussed the New Zealand import problem with Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and outlined the IFA view that there can be no concessions to New Zealand.
All imports must meet EU standards and the Brexit dilemma must be satisfactorily resolved.
“New Zealand already has more access to the valuable EU single market than any other country, including EU member states, without paying any taxes and without meeting EU standards on key issues like traceability and the environment,” he said.
Pull back
Dennehy called on the EU negotiators to pull back and insist that the standards applied to New Zealand sheepmeat imports are similar to those imposed on Irish and European sheep farmers, such as electronic identification and strict standards on environmental controls.
“This is what the EU green deal, Farm to Fork and biodiversity strategies are all about, a level playing field and higher standards. We need to see this in action in trade deals.
"Anything less is a total contradiction and makes a mockery out of all the European Commission has said over the last few weeks on the green deal and standards,” he said.
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