asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the total imports of beef into the EEC from third countries; and if he will state the countries of origin and the quantity and price in the case of each supplying country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Beef Imports.
26.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving available information in regard to quantities imported and countries of origin. Statistics are not available in regard to prices.
The following is the statement:
Total Imports of Live Cattle and Beef into the EEC by Country of Origin
(1969-1972)
(expressed in tons of beef with bone)
|
Country |
1969 |
1970 |
1971 Eur-6 |
1971 Eur-9 |
1972 Eur-6 |
1972 Eur-9 |
||||||
|
Metric Tons |
% |
Metric Tons |
% |
Metric Tons |
% |
Metric Tons |
% |
Metric Tons |
% |
Metric Tons |
% |
|
|
United Kingdom |
13,643 |
2.22 |
19,335 |
3.25 |
7,077 |
1.22 |
— |
— |
69,137 |
7.79 |
— |
— |
|
Denmark |
102,217 |
16.65 |
79,811 |
13.42 |
73,867 |
12.68 |
— |
— |
61,051 |
6.88 |
— |
— |
|
Ireland |
2,316 |
0.38 |
5,989 |
1.01 |
1,621 |
0.28 |
— |
— |
56,672 |
6.39 |
— |
— |
|
Norway |
1,039 |
0.17 |
1,582 |
0.27 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Austria |
22,056 |
3.59 |
17,276 |
2.90 |
21,995 |
3.78 |
21,995 |
3.37 |
27,981 |
3.15 |
27,981 |
2.97 |
|
Yugoslavia |
45,386 |
7.39 |
36,681 |
6.16 |
43,963 |
7.55 |
44,860 |
6.88 |
55,948 |
6.31 |
55,948 |
5.93 |
|
Poland |
35,840 |
5.84 |
35,944 |
6.04 |
51,240 |
8.80 |
51,240 |
7.86 |
56,116 |
6.32 |
56,116 |
5.95 |
|
Hungary |
71,529 |
11.65 |
66,399 |
11.16 |
70,965 |
12.19 |
70,965 |
10.89 |
70,170 |
7.91 |
70,170 |
7.44 |
|
Roumania |
42,457 |
6.92 |
34,207 |
5.75 |
34,832 |
5.98 |
34,832 |
5.34 |
40,316 |
4.54 |
40,316 |
4.28 |
|
Czechoslovakia |
27,698 |
4.51 |
11,435 |
1.92 |
13,250 |
2.28 |
13,250 |
2.03 |
9,079 |
1.02 |
9,079 |
0.96 |
|
Bulgaria |
13,444 |
2.19 |
9,728 |
1.63 |
11,187 |
1.92 |
11,187 |
1.72 |
11,437 |
1.29 |
11,437 |
1.21 |
|
East Germany |
10,661 |
1.74 |
17,793 |
2.99 |
18,781 |
3.22 |
18,781 |
2.88 |
20,645 |
2.33 |
20,645 |
2.19 |
|
Sweden |
13,360 |
2.18 |
12,335 |
2.07 |
5,933 |
1.02 |
7,864 |
1.21 |
5,317 |
0.60 |
5,919 |
0.63 |
|
Switzerland |
626 |
0.10 |
946 |
0.16 |
651 |
0.11 |
651 |
0.10 |
949 |
0.11 |
949 |
0.10 |
|
Finland |
4,513 |
0.73 |
3,589 |
0.60 |
5,679 |
0.98 |
10,393 |
1.59 |
3,047 |
0.34 |
4,282 |
0.45 |
|
Argentine |
145,473 |
23.70 |
158,600 |
26.65 |
123,772 |
21.25 |
174,137 |
26.72 |
241,286 |
27.19 |
324,131 |
34.38 |
|
Brazil |
32,220 |
5.25 |
40,923 |
6.88 |
41,296 |
7.09 |
46,486 |
7.13 |
84,774 |
9.55 |
95,851 |
10.17 |
|
Uruguay |
25,127 |
4.09 |
34,544 |
5.82 |
39,933 |
6.86 |
39,933 |
6.13 |
40,810 |
4.60 |
40,810 |
4.33 |
|
Cuba |
263 |
0.04 |
— |
— |
200 |
0.03 |
200 |
0.03 |
241 |
0.03 |
— |
— |
|
Australia |
135 |
0.02 |
178 |
0.03 |
1,057 |
0.18 |
41,181 |
6.32 |
2,046 |
0.23 |
88,326 |
9.37 |
|
New Zealand |
51 |
0.01 |
— |
— |
251 |
0.04 |
18,030 |
2.77 |
596 |
0.07 |
16,750 |
1.78 |
|
Paraguay |
144 |
0.02 |
2,933 |
0.49 |
5,521 |
0.95 |
5,521 |
0.85 |
14,284 |
1.61 |
14,284 |
1.52 |
|
Madagascar |
1,902 |
0.31 |
3,712 |
0.62 |
6,896 |
1.18 |
6,896 |
1.06 |
4,016 |
1.02 |
9,016 |
0.96 |
|
Africa South |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1,091 |
0.18 |
14,410 |
2.21 |
3,232 |
0.36 |
17,159 |
1.82 |
|
Others |
1,829 |
0.30 |
1,096 |
0.18 |
1,302 |
0.22 |
26,814 |
4.11 |
3,106 |
0.35 |
33,532 |
3.56 |
|
Total |
613,666 |
100.00 |
595,036 |
100.00 |
582,360 |
100.00 |
651,762 |
100.00 |
887,256 |
100.00 |
942,701 |
100.00 |
Source: Commission des CE, DG de l' Agriculture
Does the Minister regard imports from third countries as having an adverse effect on the price of cattle here?
I certainly do.
Does the Minister propose to take any steps to correct this situation?
I have been taking steps at every possible meeting of the EEC and I have been speaking very strongly about it.
But the Minister withdrew his objection yesterday?
No, I did not withdraw. That is not correct.
Would the Minister ease the minds of people to whom, when we were "selling" the EEC, we said there would be a tariff wall around us but who now see cattle being imported from non-EEC countries? I know the Minister is fighting this very hard but I know also that people down the country—and the Minister is aware of this—are very worried when they find we are now in the EEC and at the same time cattle can come in from outside and we are getting very poor prices here.
Yes. That was always so and there were certain restrictive measures which have not proved to be fully effective. There is a safeguard clause provided it was used but we could not get agreement on the use of it because most EEC countries were opposed to using this clause which represents a total embargo on imports from third countries for a period.
In our situation is this not obviously the policy to pursue?
Of course, and that is the policy we have been pursuing but we have not been able to get sufficient support.
We pulled back fairly quickly.
We did not pull back.
We did.
Is Question No. 27 being taken in conjunction with No. 26?
I shall wait for No. 27.
27.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether any special arrangements have been made for imports into the EEC of beef from Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina; and, if so, if he will specify such arrangements.
Special arrangements for imports of beef into the Community from Argentina and Uruguay are contained in trade agreements which the Community has concluded with these countries.
The main provision of these agreements in regard to beef is an undertaking by the Community to endeavour, in the application of the common market organisation, to suspend or reduce levies on imports of certain categories of frozen beef, including frozen beef for processing. If such action were to disturb or risk disturbing the Community beef market, the Community may invoke a safeguard clause until the market situation has settled itself. The agreements also contain technical provisions relating to such matters as the advance fixing of levy to take account of the long sea journey involved and the fixing of the community's annual tariff quota under the GATT for imports of frozen beef.
Similar provisions are contained in an agreement between the Community and Brazil which is expected to come into operation in the near future.
I should like the Minister to tell us when these trade agreements were made and what effect they will have on our beef exports?
Practically no effect on our beef exports because they apply only to calves or very young cattle and it is mainly a traditional trade to Italy for feed lot production of beef.
Is the Minister not aware that there was always the danger when Argentina was exporting to Britain that a shipload would depress the price? I would imagine the same thing holds for EEC countries and that it would have the same effect on the Irish cattle trade.
That is not the subject matter of the question but I could answer that also.
That is a separate question.
I understand from the Minister that it is calves that are involved but surely he will not deny that these calves will be reared and fattened and will supply a market for which we will be competing with our beef and as a result would really be competing with our exports?
That is true, but I think the Deputy will agree that long before we joined the EEC the Italians had special concessions in this regard because there are very poor areas in Italy and this is one of the ways in which they were specially assisted.
I can readily understand about the poor areas in Italy and those who live there have my sympathy. I am sure the Minister will understand the concern which exists for the relatively poor areas in our part of the country and that the legality of the trade agreement of July, 1973, the trade agreement with Yugoslavia has been raised. It is the subject matter of another question, No, 51 which is on the Order Paper and which we might reach today.
Unlikely.
However, there is not a bit——
The Deputy is making a good speech instead of helping the Chair by way of asking a brief supplementary question.
I asked the Minister when the trade agreements with the three countries named in the question were signed and if it is in the best interests of our country that we agree to these agreements?
I think the agreement was signed in June or July of last year in the case of Yugoslavia.
In July, 1973.
Yes, I knew it was some time around then.
The Minister is still not answering my question as to when the agreements with Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina were signed? It would appear they were not as far back as July, 1973.
Certainly, it was during the past year that these arrangements were agreed to again but it was a continuing trade.
We shall have to find another opportunity of debating this matter. Question No. 28.
I am trying to find out the Minister's view as to the possible consequences or collects of these agreements.
I have allowed the Deputy a lot of latitude on this matter. He cannot complain.
I am sure, as a rural Deputy, the Chair understands the importance of these matters.
The Chair does.
We never had a very significant export trade to Italy.
Before the Minister leaves the question I should like to ask him how we can invoke the safeguard clause and if, at any stage, it has been invoked?
If we get a majority support in the EEC for bringing in the safeguard clause then we can have it.
The next question, please.
How many times has the Minister invoked it?
Three times.
Once.
Three times.
(Interruptions.)
No. 28. The Chair is calling the next question.
Is the Minister——
The Deputy must resume his seat.
I will, of course, but I have been treated unfairly by the Chair. This is important.
No. 28 please.
28.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether the Government will resist the proposed importation into the EEC of beef from the People's Republic of China.
Imports of beef into the Community from all non-member countries are subject to compliance with Community regulations which provide for customs duties and, at appropriate price levels, for levies. At recent meetings of the Council of Ministers I have pressed for further restrictions on Community imports of beef in view of existing market circumstances.
I may get in my question on this one.
The Deputy may not circumvent the ruling of the Chair.
The Minister is aware that when there was an attempt made to export calves last year he agreed to an £8 tariff on them.
This question deals with beef from China.
I think I should answer the Deputy. He is quite right and this happened after discussion with the two farming organisations.
I pointed it out here. I have the reins of the place here.
I held back a final decision on this until I came home and consulted the farming organisations. They were in complete agreement that it was in the best interests of the country that it should be done in this way.
Make up your own mind if you are intelligent enough to do it.
Question No. 29. Deputy Callanan will please restrain himself.