Farmers in Ireland have staged protests at the Dáil, urging representatives to reject the EU-Mercosur trade agreement aimed at enhancing trade between the EU and South American countries like Argentina and Brazil. John Cleary, National Beef Chair of the ICSA, warned that the deal could allow up to 100,000 tons of tariff-free South American beef into Europe, threatening the market value of Irish beef. As discussions continue, French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed that the deal cannot proceed without environmental policy alignment from Mercosur nations, highlighting ongoing tensions in the negotiations.