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A no-deal Brexit would introduce steep tariffs on UK agriculture goods, effectively pricing Northern Ireland's agri food industry out of the market, UFU chief executive Wesley Aston told Prime Minister Theresa May during her 24-hour tour of Northern Ireland on Wednesday.
This could be compounded by a decision by the British government to lower tariffs on imports into the UK to avoid price rises for consumers, Aston warned.
“We are already seeing evidence the [British] government is seriously considering lowering import tariffs in the event of a no deal. This would be disastrous for farmers, as the market would be flooded with cheaper, and possibly lower standard food imports. Farmgate prices would be undercut and local farmers would be unable to compete,” he said.
Aston warned of the "catastrophic consequences" of a hard Brexit for Northern Ireland's farmers. "A no deal is the worst possible outcome and must be avoided at all cost,” he said.
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