An open letter by 35 representative bodies in the UK food and drink supply chain has called on the government to make an early agreement on future trade with the Republic of Ireland as the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.

Acting under the umbrella body of the Food and Drink Federation, the signatures include the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Industry (NIFDA), which represents a large cross-section of the NI food processing industry, and the Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association (NIMEA), which represents the beef and lamb factories in the north. The letter was also signed by the National Farmers Union and the Ulster Farmers Union.

The letter highlights that the Republic of Ireland buys more from the UK food industry than the United States, China, Russia, Brazil, Canada and Japan combined, accounting for almost one fifth of total UK food and drink exports. It also highlights the two-way flow of trade with the dependence of Irish exporters on the UK for cheese and beef in particular, while 80% of the Republic of Ireland’s flour comes from Northern Ireland.

A cliff-edge scenario of hard border with customs would be bad for both the UK and Ireland

In the letter, the companies are emphasising that it is a key priority for the food and drink industry to secure tariff-free trade with the EU. They highlight that a cliff-edge scenario of hard border with customs would be bad for both the UK and Ireland and request a long transition period in the event that these are unavoidable.

FDII welcome letter

The letter was welcomed by Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII), which said it is calling for Brexit negotiations to produce outcomes that support the closest possible economic and trading relationship between the EU and the UK.

It also said that “in order to minimise economic uncertainty and potential damage to the food and drink sector, discussions on the future EU-UK trading relationship must commence as early as possible in the negotiating process.” A fast EU-UK free-trade deal is seen as the best outcome in the event of the UK leaving the single market.

British PM to trigger Article 50 this Tuesday

The letter by the UK Food and Drink Federation and supporting comments by FDII comes on the eve of the UK prime minister triggering Article 50 to commence the process of leaving the EU. That could come as early as tomorrow and is promised before the end of March.

The ante on Brexit has been further upped today with the Scottish first minister calling for a new independence referendum.

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