Mercosur deal could undermine Irish beef industry, claims Smith

THE Government’s “serious concerns” about the possible impact that a trade agreement with the Mercosur group of South American countries might have on the Irish beef sector have been conveyed to the European Commission.

Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith outlined the concerns when he met EU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht in Brussels earlier this week.

Mr Smith said beef quotas of 300,000 tonnes which have been sought by Mercosur would certainly target the market for high value product and would seriously undermine Ireland’s beef industry.