With the EU-Mercosur agreement set to be rubber stamped later this month, it's emerged that 10 per cent price and volume fluctuation threshold for safeguard triggers is indicative, not rigid.
Under Mercosur, the EU would grant a quota of 99,000 tonnes of beef per year - mostly from South American countries - to enter the EU under a significantly reduced tariff.
The quota would be phased in over several years, but it's felt that even this volume could put "substantial pressure" on Irish and EU beef markets.
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Midlands North West MEP, Barry Cowen raised the matter with the European Commissioner in relation to safeguards:
