Scots fears over trade dealwith Australia

Rural affairs ministers from Scotland and Northern Ireland have written to the UK Government with concerns about the Australia trade deal.

In a letter to International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, they say the deal risks damaging domestic farmers and producers.

Boris Johnson and Australian PM Scott Morrison announced the agreement last week.

However, UK farmers say they could be undercut by meat from Australia.

The letter from Scottish Government Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon and her Northern Ireland counterpart Edwin Poots says they: “remain extremely concerned following the recent announcement, that the UK Government is signing up to a deal that would lead to a sustained increase in imports of Australian agri-food and produced to lesser standards in relation to animal welfare

and future environmental commitments.

“We are also concerned by the size of the quotas which, after 15 years, equate to 16% of UK beef consumption and 49% of UK sheep meat consumption.

“Clearly if Australian exports reach anything close to these levels, we can

expect a very significant negative impact on our agri-food sector.”