‘Post-Brexit transition will provide stability’
Farming unions have welcomed the Prime Minister’s proposals for a two-year transition period following Britain’s departure from the European Union in 2019.
Theresa May made the proposal during her speech in Florence last week.
NFU Cymru said the transition could offer a “crucial” opportunity to work out a free trade agreement that supported Welsh farming.
The union’s president Stephen James said: “The Prime Minister’s commitment to a transitional period after the UK leaves the EU will provide important stability for farm businesses and prepares the ground for both sides to make progress in Brexit negotiations. However, we are becoming increasingly alarmed at the prospect of a ‘no deal’ departure from the EU. The resulting disruption to trade, access to labour and business stability would pose a fundamental threat to the viability of many of their businesses.
“The implementation period that the Prime Minister spoke of will be crucial if we are to reach a Brexit settlement that backs Welsh farming, although we await further details on exactly how such a transition will work.”
He added: “With three-quarters of Welsh food and non-alcoholic drinks and over a third of our lamb crop being sent to EU markets, NFU Cymru has been making the strongest case for a comprehensive free trade agreement between the EU and UK.
“We were pleased to hear the Prime Minister say there is no intention to impose tariffs where none currently exist, which NFU Cymru takes as a strong commitment to securing a free trade deal with the EU.
“Any agreement should maintain as far as practicable the free flow of agrifood products between the EU and UK, and following the Prime Minister’s speech this remains a realistic prospect, although much now depends on proper progress being made in the negotiations.
“The Prime Minister’s speech reflects many of the Brexit policies NFU Cymru has proposed since the EU referendum. Despite the lack of detail, we hope this speech will move negotiations forward so that there is stability for agriculture, businesses, the economy and society at large after Brexit.”
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) reiterated its position that Britain should remain in the Single Market.
FUW president Glyn Roberts said: “Given the vast task at hand, not least in terms of negotiations and drafting and scrutinising legislation, this is a welcome step towards the more realistic time-scale and transition advocated by the FUW since June 2016.
“Of course, such a transition period still needs to be agreed by the EU, and the FUW maintains that the UK should remain within the Common Market and Customs Union at the end of any such transition period.”
Last week Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards challenged the PM on the future trade prospects for Welsh farmers once the UK leaves the EU.
The Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards used economic data highlighting the financial contribution of farming to Wales, provided by NFU Cymru.
Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Edwards said that agriculture contributes half a billion pounds to the Welsh economy and supports 60,000 jobs.
He added: “How will farming be able to continue that contribution once the International Trade Secretary opens up domestic markets to lower food standards whilst simultaneously losing access to our main export market?”
Mrs May said that the Government was looking to leave the European Union with “a good trade deal that will continue to enhance trade to take place on a basis that is as friction-free and tariff-free as possible.”
She added that leaving the EU would present Welsh farmers with opportunities to export their produce across the rest of the world.