24 JANUARY 2019

ICSA president Patrick Kent has welcomed news that the EU has made proposals to exclude agriculture from bilateral trade talks with the US launching later this year. The EU Commission has instead committed to strictly focus on removing tariffs and non-tariff barriers to transatlantic trade on industrial goods.

Commenting Mr Kent said, “This commitment from EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström is indeed a move in the right direction towards protecting European farming interests. The US had sought extensive market access for US agricultural products as well as a relaxation of the regulations surrounding standards.”

“ICSA is vehemently opposed to saturating European markets with American agri-food products, particularly in the midst of ongoing Brexit uncertainty and the continuing threat of a Mercosur trade deal, both of which could decimate the beef trade here. In addition, the move illustrates the point that we should never compromise on standards, something that we hope will be carried over into any future Mercosur talks. Safeguarding our methods of family farming and food production that adhere to the highest standards, while limiting the influx of cheaper inferior produce has to be a priority.”

ENDS