The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Government urged to impose tariffs
The UK should put punitive tariffs on agricultural products in the event of a no-deal Brexit to limit cheaper imports and protect farmers, the Scottish Affairs Committee has urged.
Warning that the UK could be “flooded” by EU food products without tariffs because Scottish farmers would be “out-competed domestically by cheaper imports”, the committee called on the UK Government to reconsider its proposals for the industry.
A lack of clarity on how post-Brexit agricultural funding will be determined for the UK’s nations was also criticised after the government rejected using a proposed new system where a nation’s proportion of “less-favoured land” would be a key feature in determining how much funding it receives.
The comments from committee chairman Pete Wishart, in a letter to Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers, pointed out that the government has announced changes to its temporary tariff regime to support businesses which supply HGVs, bioethanol and clothing.
Mr Wishart said: “During our inquiry, we were alarmed by the overwhelmingly negative reaction Scotland’s farming sector had to the government’s temporary no-deal tariffs, which appear to provide significantly less protection than the current regime and could lead to serious ramifications for businesses and consumers across the UK.
“If the government is able to change its tariffs to support other industries such as transport and textiles, it must take similar action for farmers and ensure that the UK market is not flooded with cheap, low-quality imports.”
Demanding further clarity over the future of agricultural funding post-Brexit, Mr Wishart acknowledged “the government has taken a serious and positive approach to securing the financial future of Scottish agriculture”, but asked for more detail about how funding would reflect the different challenges each nation faces from the quality of their land.
The letter also discusses the UK Government’s Seasonal Workers Pilot, which allows 2,500 workers next year but has been described as “insufficient to meet the demands of the agricultural sector in Scotland”, by Mr Wishart, who wants the number to be increased to 10,000.