A formal trade agreement between the UK and the EU post-Brexit could take a number of years, so the initial aim might be to have transitional trade arrangements in place once the Article 50 process is complete.

Speaking at an Irish Farmers Journal breakfast event at Balmoral Show, European Commission trade analyst Willi Schulz-Greve underlined the importance of exports for the EU agri-food sector, with several trade agreements under negotiation, eg with Japan, the Mercosur countries and Mexico.

On Brexit, he reiterated the commission’s stance that progress needs to be made on the first phase of negotiations as outlined in the European Council Guidelines, before preparatory discussions can begin on a framework for the future relationship. Negotiations on a formal trade agreement can begin once the UK has withdrawn from the EU.

“Our experience in previous trade negotiations is that they take several years to be concluded and enter into force, even for negotiations with countries with comparable high standards to the EU,” he said.

Schulz-Greve maintained that the aim was to have a “smooth trade transition”. Ultimately, he insisted that the commission was out to protect the interests of the remaining EU-27, not punish the UK for leaving.

“As soon as the UK is out it can negotiate with other countries,” he said. However, he dismissed the idea that it will simply be a matter of substituting in the letters ‘‘UK’’ for ‘‘EU’’ in existing documents, pointing out that deals historically take years to complete.

On the issue of the Irish border he referred to the visit of EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan to Ireland who said that there will be new arrangements, but recognising a “soft” border benefits both the EU and UK. “It will not be as good as it is now, but I personally hope that it will not be as hard as some of the existing external borders,” he added.

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