A Biden administration in the White House is likely to be “generally positive” for Irish farming and food, Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) president Pat McCormack had said.

McCormack identified a receding threat of tariffs, opportunities for beef exports and a shift in priorities for Brexit negotiations among the wins for Irish farmers.

Tariffs had been an important instrument of economic policy in the Trump administration, McCormack said.

Tariffs

“The fact is that there was a severe danger of Irish food getting caught in the crossfire as the US and China engaged in a tariff war.

“Irish farming and food – in the same way as any other Irish export – always prefers less economic isolationism and more free trade.”

McCormack added that while a more open world economy was better for Irish food exports, margins were still unsatisfactory.

Beef

A shift in priorities to bio-energy could also have a knock-on effect on US farming and the traditional production of cereal and beef in some states.

“It might open up more opportunities for premium grass-fed beef and give our beef exports to the US the kind of impetus that gets them out of the first gear in which they’ve been stuck,” McCormack said.

“It seems reasonable to assume that you’ll see more regulation of artificial hormones and we think that anything that divides the US beef market into more identifiable categories should suit more natural grass-fed and natural beef, like ours.”

Brexit

Possibly the most significant outcome for Irish farmers from the election will be the administration's attitude towards Brexit.

“If the UK government was tempted into considering sacrificing a trade agreement with the EU for a speedy free trade agreement with a newly mandated Trump government, then that option is now off the table,” McCormack explained.

“We think this means that the UK government – and especially some of the more extreme anti-EU elements – are now going to have to accept that they desperately need a successful trade agreement with the EU.”

McCormack believes it will result in a softer line in negotiations and make agreement of a trade deal as close to the present trading conditions more likely.