Thousands of Irish farmers protest EU-Mercosur trade deal amid fears of undercut livelihoods
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Demonstrators taking part in a farmers’ protest against the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, in Athlone, Ireland, on Jan 10.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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ATHLONE, Ireland – Several thousand Irish farmers protested on Jan 10 against the European Union’s trade deal with the South American bloc Mercosur, a day after EU states approved the treaty
Tractors streamed into the roads of Athlone, in central Ireland, for the demonstration, displaying signs including “Stop EU-Mercosur” and ones with the EU flag emblazoned with the words “sell out”.
Farmers on Jan 9 also marched in Poland, and blocked roads in France and Belgium as the EU gave the green light to the trade deal, which has been welcomed by businesses groups but heavily criticised by European farmers.
The accord, more than 25 years in the making, would create one of the world’s largest free-trade areas, boosting commerce between the 27-nation EU and the Mercosur bloc comprising Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay.
Major Mercosur exports to the EU include agricultural products and minerals, while the EU would export machinery, chemicals and pharmaceuticals with lowered tariffs applied.
But many European farmers fear their livelihoods will be undercut by a flow of cheaper goods from agricultural giant Brazil and its neighbours, prompting Ireland, France, Poland, Hungary and Austria to vote against the accord.
The agreement is widely opposed by Irish farmers for fear it will result in an influx of an extra 99,000 tonnes of cheap beef from South America, disrupting Irish agriculture.
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Ireland’s main farmers’ lobby group, called the result “very disappointing”.
It said it would “renew” focus on securing a majority against the deal in the European Parliament.
“We expect Irish MEPs to stand behind the farming community and reject the Mercosur deal,” said IFA president Francie Gorman in a statement.
The Mercosur deal will also need to be agreed by a majority of MEPs in the European assembly in the coming months, where voting coalitions have become more volatile and unpredictable. AFP
