The EU-Mercosur trade agreement will not change the requirement that any product arriving to Europe from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay must comply with the EU’s stringent food safety standards.

Politics in the UK has taken on the attributes of an elongated version of Fawlty Towers.

The publication of the Government’s Climate Action Plan comes at the same time as the EU Commission is pushing hard to complete a South American trade deal.

The threat of EU trade agreements harming Ireland’s main farming sectors has doubled, with negotiations with New Zealand moving forward rapidly.

Brexit could trigger flight restrictions and reduced tourism numbers here but may surprisingly boost the financial services sector, a report predicts.

Many EU citizens might have to pay for a trade deal with South American countries with medical bills.

Pressure is mounting on the European Commission not to make any further concessions on beef to the Mercusor group of South American countries when trade talks resume next month.

Beef farmers will be the biggest losers in future EU trade deals, the European Commission has said.

Brexit: Early days, but global uncertainty and blow to consumer confidence are already doing some damage.

As the income crisis deepens across all farming sectors, the IFA is sending a clear message to the Government that urgent action is needed.

The EU proposal to offer South American countries a quota for 78,000 tonnes of beef sales in the EU was opposed this week by agriculture ministers from 20 EU member states.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney is urging the European Commission to keep sensitive products such as beef off the table until the end of the Mercosur trade talks.

An EU-Mercosur trade treaty feared by European farmers is on course to be derailed by radical protectionist moves by Argentina.

Irish unrest continues over core aspects of the proposed new Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), but focus is moving onto battles that have a realistic chance of being won.

THE beef and lamb businesses are among the few sectors which can remain positive about the dangers of a possible global economic upheaval, according to Northern Ireland’s Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC).

INCREASED beef imports from South America are off the table for now, said Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney last week, bringing more good news to cattle farmers enjoying high prices.

GOVERNMENT promotion of the positive environmental contribution of Ireland’s grass-based farming in its new National Climate Policy is a very welcome evolution in state strategy, according to the Irish Farmers’ Association.

CROSS-BORDER co-operation on international trade issues, rural development and animal welfare were all discussed at the 16th North South Ministerial Council Agriculture meeting in the NSMC joint secretariat offices, Armagh.

THE EU should suspend next week’s talks with the Mercosur countries on foot of a Russian ban on beef from 27 Brazilian plants, IFA president John Bryan said.

EU agriculture ministers agreed last week that trade offers should not be made to the Mercosur countries of South America until EU member states have had sufficient time to fully evaluate impact assessments being prepared by the European Commission, and after full debate by EU agriculture ministers.

EU agriculture ministers agreed last week that trade offers should not be made to the Mercosur countries of South America until EU member states have had sufficient time to fully evaluate impact assessments being prepared by the European Commission, and after full debate by EU agriculture ministers.

PROTECTING the Irish agri-food sector against the threat of a Mercosur deal is top of the agenda for Agriculture, Marine and Food Minister Simon Coveney as he attends his first EU Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels today.

THE IFA has identified €450 million in additional profit potential for livestock farmers.

THE Government is undertaking a trade review and exploring closer links with emerging markets such as Brazil and at the same time will push scientists to work more closely with industry in a bid to increase productivity.

Latin American leaders head for a meeting with the European Union this week amid disputes that threaten some of the Western Hemisphere’s political and trade alliances.