The Northern Ireland agri-food alliance has said that UK no-deal tariff proposals would deliver a “fatal blow” to farming in Northern Ireland (NI) from which it could take generations to recover. “These proposals make Northern Ireland uniquely exposed.

“We are now going from a position where we have all the benefits of EU membership to being faced with the worst of all worlds,” the alliance said.

Both the alliance and the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) are fearful that cheap imports from third countries can now gain favourable access to the UK market under these proposals, which would undermine current food quality and animals welfare standards.

The UFU has also criticised proposals for tariff-free trade across the Irish border.

Illegal trade

“It could potentially open the door to illegal trade which would seriously impact on the integrity of the NI agri-food industry,” president of the UFU Ivor Ferguson said.

No-deal tariffs present ‘massive threat’ to Irish beef

Exclusive: UK beef tariffs become reality

Northern Irish farmers face ‘fatal blow’

The Northern Irish farming base could be wiped out according the industry leaders in the country.