Watch: Mercosur stalemate as 'beef safeguard clause' added
Despite the European trade commissioner's drive to conclude a trade deal with South America, efforts to protect beef farmers from imports are still slowing down a potential deal.
EU-Mercosur ministerial meeting in Brussels last month.
ADVERTISEMENT
Intense discussions are continuing between the EU and the Mercosur bloc in an attempt to break the stalemate on a trade deal.
EU access for South American beef remains a stumbling block. The EU has formally offered 70,000t of beef over the current import level and is prepared to go as far as 99,000t. However, the South American bloc is demanding more.
European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström has written to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed that it was “not realistic to expect Mercosur to agree to conclude a negotiation” without including meat. She promised to “find the right balance between the need to shield sensitive sectors from full liberalisation and the many opportunities” of a trade deal, which the IFA has described as “admitting that EU agriculture, animal welfare and environmental standards are being sold out for other interests”.
ADVERTISEMENT
Watch an interview with European Parliament Vice-President Mairead McGuinness on Mercosur and other current EU farming issues in our video below:
Brussels sources said this week that beef was not the only bone of contention, with Mercosur countries defensive about granting access for EU cars and insisting that manufacturers build cars in South America rather than ship ones made in the EU.
If a trade agreement was signed, French president Emmanuel Macron has said that it would include a “safeguard clause” to stop South American beef imports in the event of a market crisis.
Red line
“Whatever the quotas negotiated, there will be a safeguard clause – this is a French red line,” he said.
“If the market is destabilised and prices are undermined, we can suspend the agreement.”
President Macron also said that any Mercosur trade deal would not enter into force until 2024 and the EU would strengthen border controls to enforce equivalent food safety, social and environmental standards on imports in the intervening time.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
Intense discussions are continuing between the EU and the Mercosur bloc in an attempt to break the stalemate on a trade deal.
EU access for South American beef remains a stumbling block. The EU has formally offered 70,000t of beef over the current import level and is prepared to go as far as 99,000t. However, the South American bloc is demanding more.
European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström has written to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed that it was “not realistic to expect Mercosur to agree to conclude a negotiation” without including meat. She promised to “find the right balance between the need to shield sensitive sectors from full liberalisation and the many opportunities” of a trade deal, which the IFA has described as “admitting that EU agriculture, animal welfare and environmental standards are being sold out for other interests”.
Watch an interview with European Parliament Vice-President Mairead McGuinness on Mercosur and other current EU farming issues in our video below:
Brussels sources said this week that beef was not the only bone of contention, with Mercosur countries defensive about granting access for EU cars and insisting that manufacturers build cars in South America rather than ship ones made in the EU.
If a trade agreement was signed, French president Emmanuel Macron has said that it would include a “safeguard clause” to stop South American beef imports in the event of a market crisis.
Red line
“Whatever the quotas negotiated, there will be a safeguard clause – this is a French red line,” he said.
“If the market is destabilised and prices are undermined, we can suspend the agreement.”
President Macron also said that any Mercosur trade deal would not enter into force until 2024 and the EU would strengthen border controls to enforce equivalent food safety, social and environmental standards on imports in the intervening time.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS