A proposed ‘emergency brake’ to protect against the EU-Mercosur trade deal harming Irish farmers is not a convincing concession, according to Independent MEP Michael McNamara and farming organisations.
The proposal, which would permit the European Union to temporarily raise import duties if cheap South American beef floods the market, is part of a new concession to convince Ireland and other EU countries to back the agreement.
The Mercosur deal between the EU and the Mercosur countries – Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay – agreed in December, aims to create a free trade area between the two blocs with tariffs gradually disappearing on most products, with the exception of some agri-products subject to quotas. The proposed deal will essentially create the world’s biggest free trade zone, encompassing some 700 million consumers.
Farmers groups today stressed their opposition to the deal, describing it as a “betrayal” of Irish farmers and democracy on the day that the European Commission adopted a text to start the process of ratification by EU member states and the European Parliament.
The declaration will bind the Commission with the aim of addressing concerns from farmers worried about unfair competition from Mercosur products. Irish farmers and others across the EU have long voiced concerns that the trade deal between the EU and Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay would see Argentinian beef undercutting the demand for Irish beef elsewhere in Europe.
Today, it was heard that any surge in cheap South American beef into parts of the EU would result in a review under the proposed Mercosur deal, as part of a new concession to convince Ireland and other EU countries to throw their backing behind the agreement.
However, speaking to Gript, Independent MEP Michael McNamara said that the proposed brake did not instil confidence.
“I’m not convinced by the so-called emergency brake, whereby the EU would have the power to pull an emergency brake and reimpose high import duties on Mercosur beef if its review established domestic farmers were facing threat of “serious injury” from South American competition,” Mr McNamara said.
“The EU has the power to suspend or cease the trade association with Israel in the event of human rights violations. That trade association agreement continues in force in the face of the start of ethnic cleansing in Gaza,” the MEP added.
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Organisation (ICSA) added to scepticism around the proposed safeguarding measure on Wednesday. The organisation claims that the Commission’s decision to push ahead with the agreement was a betrayal of Irish farmers and democratic accountability. ICSA president Sean McNamara said that Irish and European beef farmers had been “sacrificed” so that German carmakers and other industrial sectors could profit.
“By confirming it is decoupling the trade aspects of Mercosur, Brussels is forcing the deal through without requiring approval from all 27 national parliaments. Only a qualified majority in the European Council plus European Parliament approval is needed, meaning member state parliaments will have no say at all. This deliberate circumvention of democracy is unacceptable,” Mr McNamara said.
Continuing Mr McNamara said, “A so-called ‘emergency brake’ has been proposed, which would allow the EU to temporarily raise import duties if South American beef floods the market. But by then the damage to Irish farmers will already have been done. It’s like bolting the door after the horse has gone. Irish family farms cannot be gambled on vague promises that will inevitably come to nothing.”
“Furthermore, this deal is blatant green hypocrisy. Irish farmers are being forced to cut emissions, plant trees, meet the highest standards, and adhere to strict animal health and welfare regulations, while Brussels plans to wave through beef produced in an environmental free-for-all. That makes a mockery of the EU’s climate and food safety agenda.”
“We have heard fine words about opposing Mercosur, but now is the moment of truth. Farmers want a cast-iron guarantee that Ireland will oppose this deal outright – and work with like-minded EU allies to have beef removed from the agreement. Anything less is a betrayal of the commitments made to farmers during the last election. Irish farmers will not stand idly by while their livelihoods are sold off in return for cheap cars.”
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) president Francie Gorman, meanwhile, said it was time for the Irish Government to “stand up” for farmers in relation to the deal. The government has voiced its opposition to the deal in its current form.
‘A WATERSHED MOMENT’
“We have had plenty of assurances about the Government’s opposition to the Mercosur deal, but it has to deliver. We cannot countenance a deal that refuses to recognise the gap in standards between the EU and Brazil,” he said.
Mr Gorman said that beef and poultry producers should not have to pay the price of allowing other sectors to gain access to the South American market.
“The EU Commission would probably like to push this through without much discussion, but we will be looking to other Member States which have issues with the deal to back us here. There is also a role for our MEPs to build alliances with colleagues to mount a blocking vote to the deal,” he said.
“At every opportunity, we have raised this with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Agriculture. During the last General Election, we had their backing to oppose the deal and that commitment has to stand. Failure to do so would amount to reneging on what has been promised,” he said.
“Even with improved prices over the last 12 months, the incomes of beef producers are very modest. It’s both hypocritical and contradictory to insist on the highest standards for European producers only to allow Mercosur countries access without reaching the same standards.”
Mr Gorman said it represents a watershed moment for farmers and the EU.
“Trust in how decisions are reached at EU level will be undermined if a deal like this is pushed through by the Commission.”