Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has expressed "serious reservations" about aspects of the ongoing world trade talks in Geneva, particularly in relation to the potential impact on the Irish beef market. The talks were to conclude today, but have now been extended after signs of a breakthrough on a deal last night.
"There is considerable disquiet and discontent (among EU countries) on a number of the specific aspects of it," said Ms Coughlan.
"We have a couple of issues and one, of course, is agriculture. And we don't see the balance in NAMA [trade in industrial goods], and we haven't seen services at all as of yet."
Farmers this evening urged the Government not to hesitate to use its power of veto over the current trade proposals.
Ms Coughlan, along with Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith and Minister for Trade and Commerce John McGuinness attended the EU General Affairs Council this morning, and expressed “serious reservations” about aspects of the WTO negotiations.
They particularly expressed concerns about the potential impact of the proposed deal on the EU beef market, a Government statement said. The Ministers said there were a number of further outstanding issues on agriculture to be resolved.
They acknowledged, however, that some progress had been made in relation to improved market access for goods and they expressed the view that there is a need for more work to be done in this area and also in relation to services.
“Given that the Council of Ministers meeting took place before this afternoon’s WTO meeting on services, Ministers said they were not in a position to begin consideration of the prospects for improved market access. They again emphasised Ireland’s high level of ambition in this key sector,” the statement added.
The Ministers said there was a continuing need to pursue “an ambitious, balanced and comprehensive agreement”.
The Irish delegation of Ministers will also attend the next meeting of the General Affairs Council planned for tomorrow afternoon.
The Irish Farmers' Association said the proposals were a "sell-out" by the EU and urged Taoiseach Brian Cowen to use his veto powers to block any final agreement.
"I am urging the Taoiseach and the Government not to hesitate to use the veto," said IFA president Padraig Walshe.
He said in a statement the proposals being discussed were "obviously a last-ditch attempt to buy a WTO deal at any price".
The IFA has campaigned vociferously against the agriculture concessions proposed by the European Union's executive Commission in the negotiations, saying they would hurt Ireland's agricultural sector, especially its beef farmers.
Each EU country has the power of veto over a final WTO agreement. This week's talks are aimed at cracking the most difficult parts of a deal - agriculture and industrial goods.
The Doha negotiations for a global trade deal were launched in 2001 to boost the world economy and help fight poverty and chances for a long-elusive breakthrough improved dramatically on Friday as the compromise proposals were hammered out.
"We will return to the 'green room' tomorrow with the backing of EU member states to work on this emerging deal," EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said, referring a closed-door meeting of trade ministers from around 30 key World Trade Organization (WTO) players scheduled for Sunday.
"There are still potential potholes in the road ... But we are closer to a deal than we have been at any point in the last seven years," Mr Mandelson told reporters on the sixth day of intensive talks, which are aimed at reaching a breakthrough in the long-running Doha world trade round.
Without a breakthrough now, the talks risk being frozen for a further year or two while the United States and the European Commission change administrations and India holds elections.
Only a few EU countries, including current EU president France, opposed the proposals as a basis for further talks when Mandelson briefed delegates today, according to officials who attended the meeting.
Reuters