Fears farming will suffer in post-Brexit trade wrangling
Post-Brexit trade deals must not undermine Scottish farming’s high standards, says Scotland’s farming union.
NFU Scotland joined other UK farming interests in calling for ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations to recognise and support farmers and crofters and the high standards they meet.
Momentum is building behind a trading agreement with Australia, with discussions also under way with New Zealand.
The UK Farming Roundtable – involving 19 farming bodies from all four nations – said this week that the UK government must set up a statutory Trade and Agriculture Commission to scrutinise all future trade deals. It should be in place before any agreement is reached.
Five principles agreed include:
▪ Upholding high standards of production and positioning the UK as a global leader in sustainable farming and in tackling climate change
▪ Recognising the specific sensitivities of some UK farming sectors
▪ Balancing improved access and lower tariffs for agricultural imports with quotas and other safeguards
▪ Ensuring any trade deal is genuinely reciprocal
▪ Acknowledging that these deals will establish precedents in all trade deals
The roundtable said that while it supports broad liberalisation of tariffs ‘on a mutually beneficial basis’, the UK’s high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards should be protected.
The group also endorsed the government’s ‘commitment that UK farmers should not be undercut by unfair competition’ as counterparties push for unrestricted market access by eliminating tariffs.
‘Additionally, the suggestion that negotiators are now in a ‘sprint’ to finalise the details of a UK/Australia FTA gives rise to concerns that the UK will come under pressure to make serious and potentially damaging concessions to meet the expedited timetable.’
NFU Scotland has sought the support of Scottish politicians to ensure any trade deal follows the correct process.
NFUS president Martin Kennedy said: ‘We share the concerns expressed regarding the Australia FTA negotiations.
‘Scotland’s beef, dairy, sheep and grain sectors are particularly exposed should a deal be rushed through with Australia that fails to strike the right balance. All deals must be properly scrutinised and ratified to avoid any risks to the future viability of the farming sector.
‘Rushing through a trade deal without the promised statutory Trade and Agriculture Commission in place prior to the deal being concluded also sets a damaging precedent for other trade deals.
‘UK consumers already enjoy some of the most affordable food in the world, produced to the highest standards. Employment, the prosperity of rural areas and our high standards should not be jeopardised for the sake a headline-grabbing deal.’