MEPs want impact of South American trade deal on farmers to be analysed

THE European Parliament has supported a demand by Irish farmers to produce an analysis on how meat imports from Latin America would affect European farmers and the beef industry in particular.

A report produced by the EU-wide farmers organisation COPA says it would cost the EU’s beef sector up to €25 billion a year while the IFA says the imports would undercut prices by 30%, making the industry non-sustainable.

MEPs and the farmers joined forces as trade officials from the EU and Mercosur — representing Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay — are due to have their latest meeting on opening up markets to one another.