The talks hinge on discussions on key sectors, including Mercosur demands to increase the 70,000t beef quota offered by Europe last year. European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan has signalled that he would block any offer over 100,000t.

Speaking from the talks in Brussels this Tuesday, IFA livestock chair Angus Woods accused European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström of “bulldozing her way on trade to satisfy big business over the interests of EU citizens”.

“Commissioner Malmström has already conceded way too much in the giveaway of an additional 70,000t of EU beef market access. Now the Brazilians want more. Ireland and Commissioner Hogan need to say bluntly: enough is enough,” Woods said.

’Press the pause button on Mercosur’

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said ahead of the talks that the existing beef offer from the Commission “flies in the face of logic” after its own studies showed the risk posed to the sector by additional imports.

“There are strong arguments to be made for pressing the pause button on Mercosur,” Minister Creed said. However, he warned: “There’s no point in sugar-coating it, there is an element of momentum” in the negotiations.

He cited French president Emmanuel Macron as an ally in the talks. French agriculture stands to be most directly hit by trade liberalisation on both South American beef and sugar, two of the most controversial sectors in the proposed trade agreement.

This agreement can be a good one if our red lines are respected

Addressing farmers last week, Macron said France would “not block” a trade deal but had “red lines” on beef and sugar. “This agreement can be a good one if our red lines are respected,” he said. He subsequently met European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and Argentinean president Mauricio Marci.

At a joint press conference with his Argentinean counterpart, Macron said it was “technically feasible to find a way to meet the objectives of Mercosur, including Argentina, and the EU, including France”. This would entail “defending our beef sector especially,” he added.

Behind the scenes, France has been pushing for a number of conditions to protect European markets from South American beef imports regardless of the potential tonnage agreed in a free trade agreement. These could include creating sub-categories by types of cuts, as well as attaching traceability, welfare, feeding and animal health requirements to any increase in imports.

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Full coverage: Mercosur