Ireland’s decision to vote against the EU–Mercosur trade agreement is the right decision – and it is one made with farmers in Louth, rural Ireland, and our wider agri-food community firmly in mind. 

Louth farmers, like farmers across the country, produce food to some of the highest environmental, animal welfare and labour standards anywhere in the world. They do so at significant cost and under ever-increasing regulatory obligations. It is simply not acceptable to ask them to compete with imports produced to lower standards, with weaker enforcement and questionable environmental safeguards. 

Let’s be honest: from a narrow economic viewpoint, the Mercosur deal makes sense for some sectors. Irish exporters would benefit from tariff reductions, and parts of the economy would gain. But trade policy is not just about balance sheets – it is about fairness, trust and protecting communities that do the right thing. 

Beef is the fault line in this agreement. While safeguards have been improved – including measures championed by Barry Cowen MEP through sustained engagement at EU level – they still do not provide sufficient confidence that Irish farmers will be protected from being undercut. Environmental commitments, particularly on deforestation, remain too weak and not legally binding enough to inspire confidence. 

For farmers in Louth, this is not an abstract EU debate. It is about margins, market confidence, and whether family farms remain viable into the next generation. Rural Ireland cannot be collateral damage in trade deals designed to suit larger economies or industrial sectors elsewhere. 

Ireland should engage, negotiate and influence – but it should never sign up to agreements that undermine its own farmers. Voting against Mercosur is not obstruction. It is responsible government and standing up for Louth, rural Ireland, and the people who put food on our tables. 

For further information, reach out to Erin McGreehan.

ENDS