EDITORIAL: EU-Mercosur trade deal will threaten farms in Tipperary

The European Union’s trade agreement with Mercosur this week will have a detrimental impact on farmers in Tipperary, writes Tipperary Live.

While the deal promises opportunities for trade that will benefit some EU states more than others, it also poses serious challenges for local farmers, who form the backbone of Tipperary’s economy and let’s not forget, provide us all with an essential commodity, food.

For decades, Tipperary’s farmers have supplied high-quality beef, dairy, and other agricultural products to both national and international markets.

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The Mercosur agreement opens the EU to significant imports of beef and other foods, often produced at lower costs and under different environmental and welfare standards.

This could put immense pressure on local producers, who may struggle to compete on price without compromising quality or sustainability.

It also feels deeply unfair that Irish farmers must comply with strict regulations and high standards, while imported products often escape the same scrutiny.

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This is an issue not just affecting farmers, but this trade deal is likely to have a negative impact on local economies in Ireland.

Dependence on imported food may increase if local production declines and this may mean less control over quality, safety, and environmental standards.

Villages, local businesses, and rural schools all thrive when farmers thrive. If local producers are undercut, it is entire communities that feel the impact, not just individual farms.

Ultimately, the Mercosur deal is a reminder that global trade is not abstract. Its effects are felt from the EU headquarters in Brussels , to a local farm here in Tipperary.

Tipperary’s farmers and farmers all across the EU deserve better from policymakers. Targeted subsidies or relief schemes need to now be introduced for farmers most affected by imports, especially in the beef and dairy industry.