Figures on food imports boost UK’s Brexit hand

The UK farming industry is worried about access to the single market after Brexit, but figures confirm that the EU 27 would be the big loser if the UK imposed duties on food imports.

UK food exports to the rest of the EU were around 15 billion euro last year, but imports by the UK were 35bn. That makes the UK by far the biggest food export market for the EU 27.

As a percentage of global exports, when after Brexit the UK is classed as a third country, it would account for a quarter of trade, against 12% for the US and just 6% for China.

The country most vulnerable to a loss of the UK market would be the Netherlands, followed by Ireland, France, Germany and Spain.

This adds weight to suggestions that while a number of EU member states are talking tough over the terms for Brexit, they will have to compromise with the UK over and tariff-free trade – not least because a similar trade imbalance exists for other sectors as well as food.

If the regulations around greening were one of the things that drove many farmers to vote for Brexit, they will not be persuaded they were wrong by the latest plans to “simplify” the regulation.

The Commission insists this is the aim, but there are few signs that any of the changes called for by farmers have been included.

There will be some easing of restrictions on hedges and some other features, but the key concessions from the Commission are aimed at the environmental lobby rather than farmers.

The key change for them is a ban on pesticide use on any crops being grown on environmental focus areas.

This proposal will now have to be agreed by farm ministers, the Commission and European Parliament – but it is likely to be in place later this year.

Meanwhile, the Commission has launched plans to overhaul the approval structure for pesticides and GM crops.

The European Commission’s consultation on CAP reform after 2020 has already attracted almost 10,000 responses.

It is not clear where these came from, but in the past pressure groups outside farming have been well organised at using exercises like this to press their demands.

While the Commission says it is in “listening mode”, it has made clear that the agenda must be driven by simplification.

It also wants measures put in place to limit volatility – with risk-management tools the most likely option.

Policies to achieve “generation change” will also be central to the new CAP.

These will be about getting more young farmers into the industry by directing aid to them and offering soft loans through the European Investment Bank.