Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, centre, with Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, left, and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, after signing a trade deal between the two sides. The contrast between the Irish Government’s opposition to the Mercosur trade deal and its full-throated support for the EU–India deal – Taoiseach Micheál Martin described it as a “breakthrough” and “a positive opportunity” – illustrates the point. The Irish Farmers’ Association, one of the State’s most powerful lobby groups, successfully colonised the Government on the issue despite the reservations of certain ministers including Martin. The India deal involves little or no beef for obvious reasons, India is largely Hindu, and opens the door to increased whiskey and milk powder exports. A much bigger threat to the interests of farmers here is the likelihood of the UK, where 50 per cent of our beef exports go, doing a trade deal with Mercosur.

Source: The Irish Times January 27, 2026 19:03 UTC