Delivering early conclusions to a free trade agreement between the UK and the EU after Brexit has been listed as the main lobbying priority for the association representing the UK dairy industry.

In its annual report published on Wednesday, Dairy UK states that concluding a free trade agreement with the EU that delivers continuity of existing arrangements should be “the absolute priority for the UK Government”.

It says the ideal agreement should allow dairy products to move freely across the Irish border and should allow continued trade with the EU, the UK dairy industry’s largest export market.

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However, the worst outcome from Brexit for UK dairying would be no EU trade deal and default tariffs under WTO rules.

“If it [Brexit] is a failure, there will be far reaching consequences for dairy,” Dairy UK chair Paul Vernon said.

Although describing Brexit as “a monumental challenge”, Vernon also said that a successfully delivered Brexit could present export opportunities for the industry.

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