World trade deal may cost €1.2bn and 50,000 jobs

IRELAND’S thriving agri-food sector faces up to 50,000 job losses and the economy could lose €1.2 billion over the next decade as a result of yesterday’s World Trade deal, according to farmers’ leaders.

Farm organisations say the deal, which has hit the sector a double blow, will destroy the farming sector.

Ireland succeeded in ensuring there will be no change to direct payments under the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy until 2013 at the weekend.