Trade opportunities prompt unions to back May’s Brexit deal

While Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal is not perfect, the opportunity it offers for continued free trade in goods – including farm produce and inputs – has seen the agreement gain the backing of the UK’S four farming unions.

Following the publication of the draft Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and the outline Political Declaration on the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, the presidents of NFU Scotland, NFU England and Wales, NFU Cymru and Ulster Farmers’ Union yesterday issued a joint statement in support of the deal:

“Farmers want clarity on what the future trading relationship with Europe will be. We have argued for free and frictionless trade with the EU to continue, with no tariffs or non-tariff barriers.”

The statement repeated the union’s long-expressed belief that the no-deal option which would see default trading with the EU under WTO rules alone would not only be unacceptable, but would decimate the industry.

“The draft Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, while not perfect, will ensure that there are no hard barriers on the day we leave the European Union, and will allow trade in agricultural goods and UK food & drink to continue throughout the transition period largely as before,” the statement read. “This opportunity needs to be taken.”

The presidents restated that British farmers produced food to some of the highest production and animal welfare standards in the world:

“The food and farming industry continue to urge government to protect these standards and maintain the high levels of trade.”