Eu Mercosur Trade Talks on a Knife Edge for Beef

Speaking from the EU Mercosur trade negotiations in Brussels, IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods said he is extremely worried that Europe, led by Trade Commissioner Cecelia Malmstrom, will concede more to the Brazilians on beef.

He said “All the the key politicians are here locked in a room in Brussels haggling over the details of a possible deal. Commissioner Malmstrom is prepared to sacrifice more on beef to get more for big business and the automobile sector, with big companies like Volvo from Sweden benefiting”.

Angus Woods accused Commissioner Malmstrom of favouring big business over citizens and abandoning the European principle of a ‘Union of Equals’. He said it is a scandal that an EU Commissioner is allowed to bulldoze her way on trade to satisfy big business over the interests of EU citizens.

He called on the Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and EU Commissioner Phil Hogan to stand up to Trade Commissioner Malmstrom against her sellout to the Brazilians on beef in the negotiations.

“Commissioner Malmstrom has already conceded way too much in the giveaway of an additional 70,000t of EU beef market access. Now the Brazilians want more. Ireland and Commissioner Hogan need to say bluntly: enough is enough.”

The IFA Livestock Leader accused the EU Trade Commissioner of blatantly undermining European policy and values on the environment and animal welfare. “There is a clear contradiction at EU level. One arm of the Commission is prepared to do this deal and undermine the environment and animal welfare, while European farmers are asked to play their part on climate change and maintain the highest welfare standards.”