Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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439. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the latest Mercosur talks at EU level; the steps he is taking to protect beef farmers by ensuring that beef does not form part of a potential Mercosur deal; the bilateral meetings that he has had with his European counterparts to ensure that beef farmers are not penalised; and if he will ensure that beef does not form part of the final deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40471/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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A number of EU Member States, led by Ireland and France, have consistently raised concerns with the European Commission about the negative impact that a trade agreement with Mercosur is likely to have on the EU’s agriculture sector, and particularly the beef sector. 

Despite this, a draft offer circulated by the Commission to Member States in April 2016 contained a significant tariff rate quota (TRQ) for beef. Ireland worked very closely with other Member States in both Agriculture and Trade committees of the EU, and at Council of Ministers level, seeking to have this TRQ removed and to have a comprehensive assessment of the cumulative impact of all FTAs on the agriculture sector carried out by the Commission before any substantial offer is made. Following this intense lobbying, the Commission decided to exclude a TRQ for beef when it exchanged offers with Mercosur on 11 May 2016.

At the end of 2016, the Commission published its study on the cumulative economic impact of future trade agreements on EU agriculture.  The study demonstrated the vulnerability of specific agricultural sectors in the face of growing imports following increased market access, especially beef, rice and, to a lesser extent, poultry and sugar. It confirmed the EU position regarding the sensitive character of these products in trade negotiations, and the particular sensitivity of the beef sector.

There are now firm indications that the Commission intends to exchange offers with Mercosur again very soon, and to include a TRQ for beef.  This presents a very significant threat to the Irish and EU beef sectors, and does not take into account either the additional information available since last year in the form of the cumulative impact assessment or the potentially very damaging impact of Brexit on an already delicately balanced EU beef market. 

Ireland made a strong intervention to this effect at the Trade Policy Committee meeting in Brussels on 15 September, and was supported by a number of other member states.  We are continuing to work with those member states and Commissioner Hogan to ensure that the interests of Irish and European Beef farmers are safeguarded.