WTO deal 'bad news' for Irish farming - groups

Irish farming groups have been critical of a deal reached at World Trade Organisation talks in Hong Kong that will see the elimination…

Irish farming groups have been critical of a deal reached at World Trade Organisation talks in Hong Kong that will see the elimination of EU farm export subsidies by 2013.

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) has said the outcome of trade talks in Hong Kong is "bad news" for Irish farming.

ICSA president Malcolm Thompson said Irish farmers' ability to supply non-EU markets had been effectively been wiped out.

"This deal means that even before 2013 when export refunds are whittled away, the days of supplying beef to Egypt and Russia are effectively over," he said.

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"Having lost our international markets, we are now facing the prospect of being heavily undercut in our European market, by Brazilian beef, for example.

"All in all, this is a bad day for Irish farming, with further bad news to come and the big huge challenge now faces Ireland's agriculture industry if it hopes to survive beyond 2013. "

IFA President John Dillon said the WTO deal would destroy one third of farm output in Ireland resulting in a loss of €800 million to the economy in rural Ireland.