Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Cookies that are categorised as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Read our privacy policy here for more details.
Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Brexit and Trade

Brexit and Trade Deals

IFA works to safeguard Irish agriculture in EU negotiations and to guard against any trade deal that would damage the position of Irish produce on the EU market.


Brexit

Following the decision by the UK to leave the EU, IFA’s focus is on highlighting the key issues of concern and working to ensure the outcome of the UK-EU exit negotiations results in a situation where market access to the UK and the value of that market are maintained.

IFA highlighted the impact Brexit would have on Irish agriculture in advance of the UK referendum and has been to the fore in encouraging Government to be strong and ensure that the issues of importance to the Irish agri-sector are central to the exit negotiations. Read more about the IFA Brexit Campaign. 

Latest Brexit News

Returning Unused BAR Funds Would be Huge Failure – IFA
Brexit
Brexit Priorities
BAR Funds Cannot Go Back to Brussels
Brexit
Govt Must Come Clean on €1bn Brexit Adjustment Reserve
Brexit

Mercosur

IFA has highlighted that any Mercosur trade deal would be extremely damaging for Irish and European agriculture, and especially our important beef trade.

In advance of the first exchange of offers during EU-Mercosur negotiations, IFA mounted a strong campaign to have beef removed from the EU offer, including direct contact with Taoiseach Enda Kenny, EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan, and EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström. As a result, beef was removed from the Mercosur offer.

IFA will continue to highlight the negative consequences of a Mercosur deal and ensure vigilance against the inclusion of sensitive products, including beef.

Farmer Campaign Against Mercosur to Continue and Ramp Up Despite Commission Sell Out
Mercosur
IFA Bring Opposition to Mercosur Deal to EU Commission Offices
Mercosur
IFA President to Raise Concerns in Brussels about Mercosur Trade Deal
Mercosur

TTIP

Negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the US were formally launched by the EU Trade Council in 2013.

The aim of the negotiations is to increase trade and investment between the EU and the US through the elimination of duties and other restrictions on trade in goods. Ireland has very strong links, both economic and social, with the US. As a major exporter, market access is critical for the Irish agri-food sector, with potential opportunities arising from increased access to the US market.

IFA is working to ensure that the interests of European and Irish agriculture are not sacrificed in the TTIP negotiations in pursuit of an overall trade deal. As a fundamental principle, EU negotiators must insist on equivalence of standards. That is, all US imports must meet the same animal health, welfare, traceability and environmental standards as is required of EU producers.

An IFA Position Paper on the TTIP negotiations outlines the key issues of relevance to Irish farmers, particularly in the beef, dairy, pigmeat and poultry sectors, including market access, standards and regulatory convergence.