The proposed tariff regime published by the UK would treble the cost of Irish beef exported to the UK, which is even worse than what had been feared by farmers.

Documents seen by the Irish Farmers Journal show that beef will be subject to tariffs of up to €1,600/t or €1.60/kg when exported from Ireland to the UK in a no-deal Brexit scenario.

This would treble the cost of many cuts of Irish beef going to the UK.

Back door

However, the tariffs will not apply to beef going to Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland.

This looks like it could create a back door to the UK from Ireland.

The UK imports 300,000t of beef, of which Ireland supplies 70%.

The rates the UK intends to apply to beef, sheep and cheddar are outlined below.

Beef

Imports on beef to the UK will be subject to tariffs as follows:

  • Carcase beef: 6.8% of value plus €93.30/100kg.
  • Fresh or chilled boneless beef: 6.8% of value plus €160.10/100kg.
  • Frozen boneless beef forequarters, whole or cut in maximum five pieces each quarter in one block: 6.8% plus €116.7/100kg.
  • Tariff-rate quotas

    There is a tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for these of:

  • Quarter 1: 28,964,400kg.
  • Quarter 2: 29,690,900kg.
  • Quarter 3: 36,146,100kg.
  • Quarter 4: 29,600,100kg.
  • Under WTO rules, this quota would be available to all countries, which is what opens the UK market for Brazilian and South American beef.

    This could devastate the Irish beef industry, as it would force Irish farmers to compete with countries where the beef price is as low as €2.20/kg.

    Sheepmeat

  • Fresh or chilled lamb carcases and half-carcases: 12.8% of value plus €171.3/100kg
  • Dairy

    Cheddar

  • Cheddar (excluding grated or powdered and for processing): €22.1/100kg
  • Read more

    Brexit tariffs could cost beef sector €800m – Healy

    UK proposes tariff-free border trade