Fianna Fáil MEP for the Midlands North West, Barry Cowen, has urged the EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to strengthen the EU-Mercosur trade deal and provide assurances on key issues.

Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today (Thursday, February 13), Cowen stated that the Mercosur deal in its current form fails to provide guarantees on deforestation, environmental protection, and other key areas.

The Fianna Fáil MEP stated that alongside the Mercosur deal, the extension of the nitrates derogation post-2025 and an increased Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget are the two other strategic priorities for Irish agriculture.

“As it stands, the Mercosur deal lacks key guarantees and imposes demands on Europe’s farmers not matched by Mercosur nations," Cowen said.

"If the commission were to provide meaningful assurances around the Mercosur deal and firm commitments on the derogation and next CAP, I believe farmers’ views could shift.”

Under the Mercosur trade deal, tariffs would be gradually eliminated on 91% of EU exports to Mercosur countries in South America and on 92% of Mercosur exports to the EU.

Cowen said that Ireland has a well-established trading and investment relationship with Mercosur nations, with over 2,300 Irish jobs reliant on exports to the region.

The proposed agreement includes a quota allowing for the importation of 99,000t of beef from Mercosur countries at lower tariff rates.

This represents just over 1% of total EU beef consumption and will be phased in gradually over six years, with full implementation by 2027.

The MEP highlighted the fact that Irish beef exports rose by 6% in 2024, while record prices are being seen across marts and factories.

Irish agricultural trade currently caters for markets that split roughly into one-third each across the UK, Europe and third countries.

Cowen added that additional markets have also reopened in Korea, Vietnam and China in recent years, providing further opportunities for the beef sector.

Despite the potential opportunities for Ireland's economy as a whole, Cowen said that there is a need for a level playing field to be secured for Irish farmers, arguing that the deal currently imposes demands on European farmers that are not matched by their Mercosur counterparts.

He stressed that without meaningful guarantees from the European Commission, Irish farmers will continue to oppose the agreement.

Recently the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke said that EU Commissioner Sefcovic, had “committed to travel to Ireland” to discuss the Mercosur trade agreement with Irish stakeholders.