Phase one Brexit agreement a positive step forward

THE President of ICMSA, Mr. John Comer, has welcomed agreement on phase one of the Brexit negotiations and in particular that it now almost certain that trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland will continue post Brexit as it is currently structured. Given the level of integration in the Agri-food sectors north and south at producer, processing and marketing level, a hard border would have been a disaster particularly for border regions and it is positive that common sense appears to have prevailed on this matter and that players in the Agri-food sector can now make plans with a higher degree of certainty.

Quite clearly, from the Agri-food sectors perspective, many challenges remain in particular the trading arrangement between the EU and UK going forward and the need for zero tariffs and non tariff barriers, an agreed transitionary period to the post Brexit scenario and the €3 billion deficit that will arise in the Common Agricultural Policy post Brexit which simply will have to be at least bridged by the EU27.

The announcement today is certainly positive but there remains many outstanding issues which hopefully will be dealt with a similar common sense approach in phase two of the negotiations and beyond, concluded Mr. Comer.