Thousands of Irish farmers protest against EU-Mercosur trade deal

"Thousands of Irish farmers are protesting against the EU's trade deal with the South American bloc Mercosur, a day after EU states approved the treaty despite opposition from Ireland and France. Tractors streamed into the roads of Athlone, in central Ireland, for the demonstration, displaying signs bearing the slogan Stop EU-Mercosur and the EU flag emblazoned with the words sell out."

"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."

Thousands of Irish farmers protested the EU-Mercosur trade deal with tractors blocking roads in Athlone, displaying signs reading Stop EU-Mercosur and 'sell out'. The EU approved the treaty despite opposition from Ireland and France, following similar protests in Poland, France and Belgium. The accord would create one of the world's largest free-trade areas between the EU and Mercosur (Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay), exchanging agricultural products and minerals for EU machinery, chemicals and pharmaceuticals with reduced tariffs. Farmers fear cheaper South American imports, especially an extra 99,000 tonnes of beef, will undercut livelihoods, and the Irish Farmers' Association urged MEPs to reject the deal.

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