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PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
EU External Trade: Northern Ireland (17 March 2026)

Question Asked

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement on farmers in Northern Ireland.

Asked by:
Josh Newbury (Labour)

Answer

I understand that the EU-Mercosur interim Trade Agreement will apply provisionally from May 2026, and we will monitor its effects on trade and our imports closely.

While Northern Ireland has access to the EU Single Market in agricultural goods alongside the UK internal market, it is UK trade agreements that Northern Ireland exporters benefit from. This includes farmers and those in the food and drink sector.


Answered by:
Hilary Benn (Labour)
25 March 2026

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