Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
829. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to address potential feed price hikes following confirmation that animal feed ingredients destined for Ireland have been diverted to the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41692/20]
View answerMy Department was not alerted through any official channel to any concerns in relation to animal feed ingredients being diverted from Ireland to another country. However, my Department is aware of a shipment of animal feed ingredients, due to dock in Waterford last Friday 4th December 2020, to which a new 25% EU tariff would apply.
This tariff arises on foot of a recent EU decision to apply tariffs on certain exports from the US to the EU on foot of a WTO ruling in relation to the payment by the US of subsidies to aircraft manufacturer Boeing. It follows the imposition by the US in late 2019 of tariffs on EU exports of similar products following an earlier WTO ruling in relation to the payment of EU subsidies to Airbus.
The current trade tensions between the US and the European Union are a matter of concern, given the importance of EU-US bilateral trade to the Irish food and drink industry. I believe, ultimately, that a negotiated settlement is the preferred way to address this current dispute, as a further escalation would not serve the interests of either the EU or USA. I hope that this will be the case, and that we continue to see the benefits of free trade for manufacturers and consumers, both in the USA and in the EU.
