Independent TD for South Tipperary Mattie McGrath is calling for Ireland to Veto the Mercosur Trade Deal – the draft treaty, under discussion since 1999, aims to eliminate the majority of customs duties between the EU and Mercosur to create a vast market of more than 700 million consumers. The deal is between the EU and five countries in South America – Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Deputy McGrath is concerned over its impact on Irish agriculture, environmental standards, and rural communities as the deal allows the import of 99,000 tonnes of beef and 180,000 tonnes of poultry meat from South America at reduced tariffs. EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen alongside EU officials and representatives of the Mercosur countries are to attend a trade summit in Uruguay to finalise the deal this week. This beef from South America is likely to be in the form of steak cuts and could decimate the European steak market – where currently 50% of Irish beef exports are sold.
DeputyMcGrath is highlighting the widespread opposition to the deal among farming and environmental groups across Europe including France, Austria and Poland due to concerns about the lower standards and traceability of Brazilian beef, including the use of hormones and the ongoing deforestation of the Amazon. Deputy McGrath is also accusing the EU of environmental hypocrisy as it pushes for stricter environmental regulations and reduced pesticide use within its borders, yet it is willing to import products from countries with far less stringent standards.
