The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Brexit success on a plate in November
The odds on a successful Brexit deal are improving by the day, but it is unlikely to be struck by the suggested deadline of the EU Heads of State summit in mid-October.
Instead ta lks wi l l continue to the end of the month, with a deal likely to be sealed at a special summit in early November. Michael Gove, the key UK minister involved, has put the chances of success at 66%, but most observers would put the odds better than that.
The UK has changed its tone, giving way on key issues not related to trade but access to UK fishing waters remains one of the difficult issues. There is a sense, however, that the outline of the deal is there and that what is happening now is part of the well honed process of making things look difficult to blunt political opposition to the deal.
Agriculture and food are not controversial elements, because the UK will not find it difficult to match current or future EU standards. The only real sticking points will be around the UK’s ability to import food that does not meet these standards.
The two European commissioners for the trade and financial services portfolios have been formally approved after confirmation hearings.
The changes were brought about by the resignation as trade commissioner of Ireland’s Phil Hogan over breaking coronavirus rules. He was replaced by Ma i r e a d McGuinness, who took the finance brief, while trade has gone to former Latvian prime minister Va l d i s Dombrovskis. He faces a challenge to his flagship trade deal with the Mercosur countries of South America.
Ke y member states, including Fr a n c e and Ge r m a ny, h av e voiced doubts about ratifying this deal, and the European Parliament has now voted against it on grounds of poor env ironmenta l standards in Brazil.
Farming gains from delay because of the threat posed by reduced or no tariffs on up to 100,000 tonnes of
South American beef.
Meanwhile, a new front has opened up in Europe over the use of “meat” terms for vegetarian and vegan products.
In the firing line are veggie burgers, along with terms like sausages and steaks, which the European Parliament says should be reserved for products produced from livestock.
They want to give this the force of legislation, similar to rules that exist for dairy products.
Those wanting the change face opposition from green claims about the merits of plant-based food as an alternative to livestock production, and from multinationals investing in this area as a potential growth market.