Written answers

Thursday, 25 April 2013

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Beef Sector

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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91. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline the proposals he has tabled to protect the beef sector within the European Union in the event of a EU/US Trade Agreement being formalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19678/13]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The report of the EU-US High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth was published on 11 February this year. The Group recommended significantly closer trade relations between the two economies of the EU and the US. It reported on the opportunities for mutually beneficial job creation, economic growth and international competitiveness that would follow from a comprehensive EU – US trade and investment agreement. These opportunities are truly significant, leading to an increase in EU GDP of up to 0.5% for an ambitious and comprehensive final agreement.

The proposed Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement between the EU and the U.S. promises significant opportunities to better integrate the transatlantic marketplace and deliver improved market access opportunities for our exporters. As an open economy that already has extensive trade and investment links with the US, these trade benefits will deliver important benefits for the Irish economy. At this stage, it is the mandate to be given to the Commission that is under consideration at EU level, negotiations on a trade agreement have not commenced. Consequently it is not possible to quantify either the extent of any US requests for access to the EU market and the necessary trade off involved in respect of market access in the agriculture sector more broadly or the beef segment in particular.

The High Level Working Group recommended the phasing out of substantially all tariffs for all but the most sensitive tariffs. I have supported my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is recognising the beef sector as a sensitive sector of importance for Ireland. As I have done previously in other trade negotiations, I will continue to look for the most advantageous outcome from this trade and investment agreement with the US that promotes our vital economic interests, and that includes the special interests of the beef sector.

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