Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

282. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the impact the recent trade agreement between the USA and the UK will have on Irish beef exports to the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24914/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On 8th May, the UK Government and US Administration set out the general terms for a US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal. This does not constitute a legally binding agreement, rather it sets out the general terms for further negotiations which is intended to formalise the proposals outlined in last week’s announcement.

As part of these general terms, the UK have agreed to remove a 20% tariff on the current quota of 1,000 metric tonnes for US beef and create a new preferential duty-free quota of 13,000 metric tonnes for US beef imports. In return, the US have committed to a reallocation of its existing “Other Country” tariff rate quota for beef to allow for a new UK-specific quota of 13,000 metric tonnes.

I note that the UK and US have affirmed that imported food and agricultural goods must comply with the importing country’s sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, meaning imports of US hormone-fed beef will remain prohibited in the UK. This aligns with the EU’s position on US hormone-fed beef imports.

Whilst final details are not known at this point and a legally binding agreement is not yet in place, my Department will continue to monitor developments and the potential for such an agreement to create increased competition for Irish beef on the UK market.