The EU is a “very boring, rules-based club” according to National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Minette Batters, who said she was optimistic about the UK’s farming future outside the EU.
“We need to take back control. We are one of the most desired markets in the world and from now on we need to be driving the agenda. I don’t think we have been doing that up until now,” Batter said.
However, she stressed the importance of a deal being struck with the EU saying a no-deal Brexit would be “catastrophic” for UK agriculture.
Undesirable
Speaking at the British Cattle Breeders Conference in Shropshire on Tuesday 22 Janaury, Batters said that despite some farmers’ suggestions that it would grant UK agriculture much needed political freedom, a no-deal Brexit would be hugely undesirable for UK farming.
“A no-deal is catastrophic. I will argue with anybody about this and I have not yet met anybody who I haven’t turned around.”
Something that is of major concern to the farmers’ union president is the apparent lack of understanding at government level.
“Ag is pretty meaningless in the grand scheme of things,” she said. “Our prime minister has said we need flexibility on agriculture which is in line with the tradition of leaving agriculture last on any trade deal agenda.”
Crash-out
“If we crash out on 30 March, we are looking at an immediate trading embargo on meat and livestock products. Market access would be lost over-night. Worryingly, it would be entirely the EU’s decision as to what basis trading could resume but this could take days, weeks or even months.
“Without doubt, the biggest killer would be tariffs,” she explained.
“Should tariffs be implied on UK produce, we would be immediately priced out of the market.”
Adding to this, Batters said to overcoming the obstacle of tariffs would result in the greatest threat of all: “If we have to break down tariff walls in order to keep food prices down, we risk completely exposing ourselves to competitors like Ireland, the rest of the EU and even internationally.”
Cheap food
“We would be massively undermined by cheaper food coming on to our marketplace. South American countries like Argentina have increased global food export ambition four times in the last two years so there are many people very hungry to get to our marketplace.”
She added: “There are many in government who champion cheaper food and cheaper clothes and think that it would be great – we would effectively go to a parasite, single pool model should that happen.”
Read more
Customs arrangement would work for farmers
EU stands ready to support farmers in Brexit fallout - Hogan
The EU is a “very boring, rules-based club” according to National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Minette Batters, who said she was optimistic about the UK’s farming future outside the EU.
“We need to take back control. We are one of the most desired markets in the world and from now on we need to be driving the agenda. I don’t think we have been doing that up until now,” Batter said.
However, she stressed the importance of a deal being struck with the EU saying a no-deal Brexit would be “catastrophic” for UK agriculture.
Undesirable
Speaking at the British Cattle Breeders Conference in Shropshire on Tuesday 22 Janaury, Batters said that despite some farmers’ suggestions that it would grant UK agriculture much needed political freedom, a no-deal Brexit would be hugely undesirable for UK farming.
“A no-deal is catastrophic. I will argue with anybody about this and I have not yet met anybody who I haven’t turned around.”
Something that is of major concern to the farmers’ union president is the apparent lack of understanding at government level.
“Ag is pretty meaningless in the grand scheme of things,” she said. “Our prime minister has said we need flexibility on agriculture which is in line with the tradition of leaving agriculture last on any trade deal agenda.”
Crash-out
“If we crash out on 30 March, we are looking at an immediate trading embargo on meat and livestock products. Market access would be lost over-night. Worryingly, it would be entirely the EU’s decision as to what basis trading could resume but this could take days, weeks or even months.
“Without doubt, the biggest killer would be tariffs,” she explained.
“Should tariffs be implied on UK produce, we would be immediately priced out of the market.”
Adding to this, Batters said to overcoming the obstacle of tariffs would result in the greatest threat of all: “If we have to break down tariff walls in order to keep food prices down, we risk completely exposing ourselves to competitors like Ireland, the rest of the EU and even internationally.”
Cheap food
“We would be massively undermined by cheaper food coming on to our marketplace. South American countries like Argentina have increased global food export ambition four times in the last two years so there are many people very hungry to get to our marketplace.”
She added: “There are many in government who champion cheaper food and cheaper clothes and think that it would be great – we would effectively go to a parasite, single pool model should that happen.”
Read more
Customs arrangement would work for farmers
EU stands ready to support farmers in Brexit fallout - Hogan
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