Benefits of CAP reform must be protected in trade deals
Agriculture, Food and the Marine Minister Simon Coveney said in a written reply to Deputy Bernard J Durkan that as a small open economy dependent on trade, Ireland favours ambitious and balanced trade agreements.
“We have a number of offensive interests in the current negotiations that are taking place with Japan, India, Vietnam, Thailand and, of course, the United States.
“Like others we have defensive interests as well. The current negotiations with Mercosur come to mind in that regard,” he said.
He said the recent CAP reform provided farmers and the agri-food sector with policy certainty for the years to come and with strategic financial support to increase sustainability and enhance competitiveness.
“Against this background, we must ensure that there is proper coherence between trade and agricultural policy in the EU. I have consistently made this point to my colleagues in other EU member states and to the Commission and I will continue to work to ensure that we engage in trade negotiations that promote the interests of the EU agricultural sector,” he said.
