European Commission steps up bid to secure new export markets

The European Commission is stepping up its drive to secure new export markets and free trade deals.

The Mercosur talks with South American countries are continuing, despite concerns about standards in Brazilian meat processing plants.

The Commission is also seeking deals with Mexico, New Zealand and Australia, and the farm and trade commissioners are in Japan to begin negotiations there.

At the same time, the farm commissioner, Phil Hogan, is pressing hard to open new markets, via a series of trade missions to the Middle East.

This is making the task for the UK to secure similar trade success after Brexit all the more challenging.

The reality of the loss of the UK contribution to the EU budget is beginning to dawn with other member states.

The loss of the UK’s financial input to the overall EU budget will be between 10 and 13 billion euro a year.

One suggestion is that direct payments, or whatever structure replaces them, should be co-funded by Brussels and the member state.

This is not going down well with those that have been net beneficiaries of the CAP for many years.

After three years of wrangling, the European Commission has finally agreed new organic standards.

It claims these will boost consumer confidence and ensure fair competition, because standards will apply across all member states.

Organic farming has doubled over the past 10 years with a claimed additional million acres coming into production each year.

The rules are largely technical, but will include inspection regimes, and what steps must be taken if chemicals are found in products supposed to be organic. The rules will not come into force until 2020.

This is making the task for the UK ... more challenging