Farmers concerned over trade deal with Australia
THE UK’S new trade deal with Australia could lead to a near 10-fold increase in tariff-free imports of Australian beef in the next 12 months, it has emerged.
In the first year of the deal, lamb imports could potentially double.
Overall changes are phased in over 10 years but Australian Government sources have confirmed that major increases in red meat quotas will take place “immediately”.
The UK Government had promised a quota cap on tariff-free imports for 15 years but, according to figures released on the administration’s website, this now appears to be weighted in favour of importers.
The beef quota – the amount of Australian produce the UK will accept tariff-free – will rise from the current 3,761 tonnes to 35,000 tonnes straightaway.
Subsequently the beef quota will increase to 110,000 tonnes over 10 years.
Under the deal the lamb quota will rise to 25,000 tonnes immediately, then gradually to 75,000 tonnes by 2031.
Currently Australia can export 13,335 tonnes of lamb and sheepmeat to Britain tariff-free.
Gwyn Howells, chief executive of Welsh meat body Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC), said: “This news will do little to calm fears in our domestic livestock sector concerning the need to keep a level playing field.”
Farming leaders have lined up to condemn the deal, claiming it could undermine domestic food security and the viability of family farms.
They fear it will also open up the UK to food produced to lower environmental and welfare standards.
The Government has insisted safeguards will be put in place but the FUW is demanding proper scrutiny of the deal by the UK Parliament.
“We have grave concerns we could end up with a catastrophic deal – and that it will be set in stone,” said FUW president Glyn Roberts.
NFU Cymru said negative impacts of the trade deal are “a lot more apparent” than any potential benefits for Welsh farming.
It fears a “very real risk” a precedent has been set.
NFU Cymru president John Davies said: “I am sure negotiators for New Zealand, Canada, USA and Mexico will all want to see at least this level of access as they negotiate free trade agreements with the UK Government.
“The cumulative impact of these increased agri-food imports, even if they are staggered, needs to be carefully weighed up by government.”