The British proposal for a UK-EU free trade area while also pursuing their own independent trade policy has been branded as “seriously flawed” and “totally unacceptable” to Irish farmers.

IFA president Joe Healy said that the newly published White Paper, which outlines Britain’s vision of its future relationship with the EU, had serious implications for Irish farmers.

He warned the possibility of the UK implementing a cheap food policy within the proposed free-trade area could not only destroy the domestic UK market but also drag the EU market down with it.

“Those who see the White Paper as representing a solution for frictionless trade, north-south and east-west, are seriously mistaken. I recognise that the UK’s commitments to ongoing harmonisation with EU rules represent a major step forward towards avoiding regulatory checks."

'Not far enough'

"However, this doesn’t go far enough. The UK must also abandon its ambition to pursue an independent trade policy in agri-food. Otherwise the proposed UK-EU free trade area would result in the destruction of the CAP and the European model of family farming.”

He has called on Commissioner Phil Hogan to confront the UK on its proposal. He said that the UK government was clear in saying that outside CAP it would be free the negotiate its own trade deals. This he said this could result in European producers being undercut on prices.

“This is the kind of double-think by the UK that will not work for the EU farming and food sector. No new customs arrangement can achieve frictionless borders unless the UK commits to the EU’s common external tariff and quotas on food imports,” he concluded.

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UK trade policy would destroy CAP and EU model of family farming – Joe Healy

IFA president Joe Healy has said those who consider the recently published White Paper as a solution to Ireland’s Brexit issues were seriously mistake.