The Irish beef industry cannot be killed by the need for a Mercosur trade deal

Ireland exported €2.7 billion worth of beef in 2023, up 2% from 2022. The beef industry is an integral part of Ireland's rural economy. Mercosur is a major market for EU exports and, to date, it is the only major trading partner of the EU in Latin America with which it has not signed a preferential trade agreement. According to official EU data, Mercosur is the world's fifth largest economy outside the EU. It has a population of over 260 million and an annual output value of over €2.2 trillion. EU companies export more than €45 billion in goods and more than €23 billion in services to Mercosur. More than 855,000 jobs in the EU are related to exports to Brazil, and more than 60,000 EU companies export to Brazil. EU companies are also major investors in Mercosur, and Mercosur companies are increasingly investing in the EU. Companies from Mercosur countries employ more than 30,000 people in the EU. More than 30,000 employees. Through the agreement, Mercosur will find it easier to ...