Tynan says Brexit deal key for EU

While there are few doubts that Brexit will happen, getting the best deal on trade will be in the interests of both the UK and Europe, the Semex Dairy Conference heard.

Tom Tynan, a key member of EU farm commissioner Phil Hogan’s cabinet, said that while it was “above his pay grade” to say if the UK could retain membership of the single market, he stressed that with Europe having a positive balance of €20 billion (£18bn) worth of trade with the UK, a workable deal was likely to be important.

Asked where agriculture would rate in the broader discussions, he said that Hogan had been keen to push the wider picture.

“While farming and food accounts for 0.7 per cent of GDP in the UK a huge number of people are employed in the sector,” said Tynan. “And at the negotiating level Commissioner Hogan will be centre stage.”

Focusing on the milk sector, he said that the UK was the second biggest importer of dairy products after China, annually importing more than €4.5bn worth processed products.

Commenting on the latest round of CAP reforms he said that the UK – which had always been at the forefront in promoting environmental measures – would have been “very happy” with both the increased focus on this area and the moves to tailor schemes more closely to member states’ distinct requirements.