The EU-Mercosur trade deal will "help level the playing field for Irish exporters" according to Ian Talbot, chief executive of Chambers Ireland and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Ireland.

Talbot said that the scale of the opportunity “should not be under-estimated and is welcome when the cost of business is increasing”.

The EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement entered into force yesterday (Friday, May 1).

The trade agreement will allow an additional 99,000t of beef from Mercosur countries to enter the EU at a reduced tariff rate of 7.5%, which will be phased in over six years.

An additional 180,000t of poultry will also be allowed into the EU at a lower tariff.

The interim trade deal covers the trade aspects of the wider EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement.

Talbot said that the agreement has the potential to “broaden the range of goods and services available to Irish consumers and support increased competition, which can contribute to more competitive pricing over time and help address cost-of-living pressures”.

He added: “These are substantial, dynamic economies with increasing demand for high‑quality goods and services.

“For sectors such as agri‑food, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, engineering, ICT and professional services, reducing tariffs and regulatory barriers at this scale will make a real, practical difference on the ground.”

Mercosur

Talbot said that the agreement is about “long-term competitiveness as much as immediate market access”.

He said: “Trade agreements directly affect the ability of businesses to compete, invest and create jobs.

He acknowledged that implementation will be key and said businesses need to be supported in availing of the new opportunities.

“We now need a strong focus on engagement with businesses, especially SMEs, to fully realise what the agreement offers," Talbot added.

Sinn Féin

But the Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture and Food, Martin Kenny has described the implementation of the Mercosur trade agreement as “a disaster”.

He said: “We have debated the Mercosur deal for years now and it is widely recognised that this trade agreement is a disaster for Irish agriculture and Irish consumers".

According to Deputy Kenny before the implementation of the deal "the amount of beef from Mercosur countries has been increasing year on year".

"There were 200,000 tonnes of beef imported into the EU in 2025," he stated.

The Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture and Food said Mercosur countries will now be allowed "99,000 tonnes of beef at a reduced tariff of 7.5%.”

Deputy Kenny said: “We have already seen a 5% reduction in the volume of Irish beef exports to the EU last year and a 5% reduction in the volume of Irish beef exported to the UK last year.

“Mercosur is impacting on the Irish beef sector, and the Irish government must take heed of this.”