The European Commission may conclude a trade deal with Mercosur countries within weeks, causing havoc for beef farmers, the beef chair of the EU farming organisation Copa-Cogeca has told the Irish Farmers Journal.

Jean-Pierre Fleury said France’s position is now that “the issue of sensitive products can be managed” in a deal.

Fleury added that Germany was now pushing for a deal to open new South American markets for its cars, as trade wars threaten its exports to the US.

He expects “the most dangerous” negotiations to take place after this week’s election, when the European Parliament is not yet organised to provide scrutiny, and Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström rushes ongoing work before finishing her term.

Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan was less forceful in his protection of beef interests when asked by the Irish Farmers Journal this week, saying: “We’ll wait and see.”

Both Brazil and Argentina are keen to conclude a deal.

Any extra kg of beef coming into the EU would bring down the number of primary producers

“Negotiators say there is a window of opportunity,” Fleury said. “We’re on red alert.”

He warned that post-Brexit, the remaining EU countries will be 116% self-sufficient.

“Any extra kg of beef coming into the EU would bring down the number of primary producers,” Fleury said, with Irish and French farmers facing “collapse”.

Fleury rejected both the 70,000t increase in Mercusor beef imports formally offered by the EU and the 99,000t non-official proposal on the table, pointing to lower environmental, sanitary and social standards in South America.

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