Union ‘impatient’ as Brexit talks drag on
The head of one of Wales’ largest farming organisations has warned that a “no deal” Brexit could have “severe implications” for Welsh farmers.
NFU Cymru president Stephen James said the Welsh agricultural industry was “fast running out of patience” with both the UK Government and the European Union over the Article 50 negotiations.
He warned that farming businesses would suffer if a deal securing an economic relationship with the EU cannot be reached.
Speaking at NFU Cymru’s annual conference in Llandrindod Wells, Mr James said that the only “sensible option” for Brexit negotiators was for the UK to remain a part of the Customs Union, at least until the time when a comprehensive free trade agreement can be reached.
He said: “With less than a year and a half until our departure from the EU, farmers and growers are fast running out of patience with both sides over the Article 50 negotiations.
“The time has come for both the UK and EU governments to acknowledge that businesses and individuals across Europe will suffer if a deal securing an ongoing and closely integrated economic relationship is not reached.
“A ‘no deal’ scenario would have severe implications for our industry and I find even the thought of such a prospect deeply troubling.
“With the majority of our food exports going to the EU, any impact of a ‘no deal’ on farming and food production would have severe knock-on effects, not just to our sector but to the wider economy of Wales that relies on a thriving food and farming sector.”
Mr James urged the UK Government to secure a free trade agreement with the EU which maintains tariff-free trade in agricultural goods between the UK and EU and avoids costly and disruptive non-tariff barriers.
“If such an agreement cannot be reached by March 2019, then transitional arrangements, which allow us to continue to access our largest and closest export market, must be put in place,” he added.
“In my mind, the only sensible option is for us to remain in the Customs Union until such time as a comprehensive free trade agreement is agreed between the EU and the UK.”
While acknowledging the “significant challenges”, Mr James added that the Welsh agricultural industry should make the best of the opportunity to further develop and grow the Welsh food and farming sector.
“When we leave the EU there is an opportunity to look at how we can ensure that we use a far greater share of Welsh and British food in our schools, our hospitals and within the military,” he said.
“Agriculture is, of course, one of the sectors which has been most impacted by EU legislation. Brexit presents us with the opportunity to rethink regulation and articulate our own vision for the new regulatory landscape.
“This is an opportunity for us in Wales to create a new agricultural policy framework that helps to achieve our vision of a productive, progressive and profitable farming industry that delivers jobs, growth and investment for Wales.”
It was a point that was echoed in the House of Lords last week when peers debated the implications of Brexit for farming and the wider rural economy.
Opposition spokesperson Baroness Jones of Whitchurch said: “Undoubtedly there are huge challenges remaining in securing tarifffree access to EU markets for our farmers and fishermen.
“And it is impossible to imagine how we will feed the nation postMarch 2019 unless we have access to the crucial EU food imports and migrant workers on which our nation depends.”
However, looking ahead, she acknowledged: “There is the potential for a bright future ahead based on sustainability, new local markets and the creation of high-skilled jobs for the next generation.”