Ireland will not be voting for the EU-Mercosur trade deal, Micheál Martin has said.
Negotiations on the controversial agreement between Brussels and South American nations of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia concluded late last year, following a quarter of a century of talks.
However, concerns have been raised by the agricultural lobby that it will mean the EU is flooded by cheap South American food, raised by farmers who do not have to abide by the same high standards as those in Europe.
Brazilian gauchos herd cows. Picture by: Alamy.com.Speaking to Newstalk on an official visit to China, An Taoiseach said although “progress has been made”, the deal would undercut Irish farmers if ratified in its current form.
“We have to be confident that the standards that we have set now and the obligations placed on Irish and European farmers are not undermined by food production systems that are not as carbon efficient and that don't have the same stringent standards,” Mr Martin argued.
“So in the round, acknowledging that progress has been made in terms of the safeguards… but in terms of that basic issue around the obligations and standards on Irish farmers, our sense is we don't have confidence that they won't be under pressure.”
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EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described it as a “win-win” agreement for citizens and businesses on both continents.
“We have listened to the concerns of our farmers and we acted on them,” she said.
“This agreement includes robust safeguards to protect your livelihoods. EU-Mercosur is the biggest agreement ever, when it comes to the protection of EU food and drinks products.
“This is the reality of an agreement that will save EU companies €4 billion worth of export duties per year.”
A vote on the Mercosur deal will be held in the European Council tomorrow.
Main image: Taoiseach Micheál Martin and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Picture by: Alamy.com.
