EU set to offer beef quota to South Americans despite opposition from 11 Member States and farmers

REUTERS/Bruno Kelly

Ciaran Moran and Anthony Boadle

Negotiations between between the EU and South America’s Mercosur bloc are set to take a major step forward next week with reports from Brussels that the EU Commission have agreed a new substantial offer on beef.

However, European Union nations led by France and Ireland have proposed postponing a farm trade offer to South America’s Mercosur bloc until rules are agreed to avoid unfair competition, diplomats said on Thursday, creating a potential obstacle to a deal.