Britain’s trade deals are impacting EU farmers

12.1.2022

Priority question for written answer  P-000137/2022
to the Commission
Rule 138
Chris MacManus (The Left)

The British Government has already concluded trade deals with Australia and New Zealand, two important agricultural exporters. It is believed that a Mercosur deal could also be in the pipeline.

The flooding of the British market with cheap beef and sheep meat would have a dramatic impact on trade flows from the EU. Ireland, for example, provides 80 % of Britain’s beef imports and this represents around 42 % of our total beef exports.

With regard to sheep meat, what we will likely see is Britain allowing large numbers of imports to its home market while it sends more and more to the EU, as a result of the free trade agreements. This will have an impact on Irish exporters within the EU.

Given this significant disruption, will the Commission commit to conducting a study on the impact of Britain’s trade deals on Member‑State exporters?