Thousands of Irish farmers protested on Saturday against the EU’s trade deal with Mercosur, the South American trade bloc. The protest took place in Athlone, central Ireland, where tractors filled the streets. Farmers carried signs with slogans like “Stop EU-Mercosur” and an EU flag marked with “sell out”. This followed similar protests in Poland, France, and Belgium after EU states approved the long-awaited deal despite opposition from Ireland, France, Poland, Hungary, and Austria. The EU-Mercosur agreement aims to create one of the world’s largest free-trade zones. It would boost trade between the 27-nation EU and Mercosur members Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay. The deal cuts tariffs on exports like agricultural products and minerals from Mercosur, and machinery, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals from the EU. However, European farmers fear this will flood their markets with cheaper goods, especially beef from Brazil, threatening their livelihoods. Irish farmers worry about an extra 99,000 tonnes of cheap South American beef entering their market. The Irish Farmers’ Association called the EU approval “very disappointing” and said it will focus on winning a majority against the deal in the European Parliament. IFA President Francie Gorman urged, “We expect Irish MEPs to stand behind the farming community and reject the Mercosur deal.” Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin also voiced concerns that Mercosur beef may not match the EU’s high environmental standards, stressing the need to protect domestic regulations. At the protest, some farmers even called for an “Irexit,” highlighting anger over imports they say do not meet EU rules. The deal still needs to pass the European Parliament, where votes are unpredictable. The outcome remains uncertain as debates continue.