Mercosur food in swop for exports

EUROPEAN farmers have accused Brussels of using agriculture as a “bargaining chip” in order to get access to South American markets for wines and spirits and other exports.

As the European Commission forges ahead with a bilateral trade deal with the Mercosur countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, they have offered to take an extra 100,000 tonnes of top quality "Hilton" beef into the EU on preferential terms 50,000 tonnes up front, with the balance dependent on the outcome of the Doha Round of world trade talks.

That would more than double the 40,300 tonnes of chilled boneless cuts that currently come in at just 20% duty.