Despite a strong lobby coming from farming and agri-food leaders on the need for the UK to reciprocate EU tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit, government ministers continue to defend the plan originally published in March.
It is understood that the minister in charge of no-deal planning, Michael Gove, is to publish a new set of tariffs by mid-October, although it is expected that the list will be broadly similar to that from earlier in the year.
During a meeting with the Westminster Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee on Monday, the new Defra Secretary Theresa Villiers confirmed that the tariff plan has been reviewed.
There will be the option to make amendments before we move to a permanent tariff arrangement
However, she repeated previous government claims that it was about finding the right balance between keeping prices low to the consumer, while at the same time ensuring that farmers are not faced with unfair competition and price instability.
“There will be the option to make amendments before we move to a permanent tariff arrangement,” she told MPs.
Under the UK plan, it would apply tariffs on the likes of beef that are about half that of the EU, while also offering up a significant 230,000t tariff-free beef quota to all suppliers. Many dairy products would have low or zero tariffs applied, while there are also zero tariffs on the likes of grain and eggs.
Competitively, economically, it is crazy
In Ireland, the UK does not intend imposing any checks or tariffs on goods coming from south to north, yet NI farmers would face a high tariff wall in the opposite direction.
That specific part of the UK plan was queried by DUP MP David Simpson.
“Competitively, economically, it is crazy,” he told Villiers, pointing out that it would potentially devastate a number of sectors within NI agriculture.
We are looking carefully at whether support mechanisms are needed in NI in particular
Responding, Villiers said the government has been developing tools to monitor market prices and to support farmer incomes where necessary.
“We are looking carefully at whether support mechanisms are needed in NI in particular. We are ready to intervene in any sector and prepared to act swiftly. Government has set aside a substantial amount of money for Brexit preparedness,” she said.
Vets
On the issue of export health certificates (EHCs), signed off by vets and required to accompany a product being exported to the EU after Brexit, she confirmed that the number to be issued could increase ten-fold after Brexit.
Defra has signed up over 1,000 vets to certify goods leaving Britain, but there are capacity issues in NI, acknowledged Villiers.
On the issue of future trade deals, the Defra secretary also insisted that the UK government will not allow in chlorine-treated chicken or hormone-treated beef as part of a future US trade deal.
UK must apply again for third-country status from the EU.
We are cautiously optimistic we will get it in time for exit day
Back in early April the UK confirmed that its application to be listed as a third country had been agreed by the EU, allowing it to export live animals and animal products to member states (via border inspection posts, etc) in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
However, when the UK didn’t actually exit the EU in the spring, this listing was withdrawn, meaning that the UK has now had to apply again.
“We are cautiously optimistic we will get it in time for exit day,” Defra secretary Theresa Villiers told MPs on Monday.
Read more
Hogan ‘pleased’ with nomination as Commissioner for Trade
Concerns about Brexit doubles among Irish agri-food SMEs
Despite a strong lobby coming from farming and agri-food leaders on the need for the UK to reciprocate EU tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit, government ministers continue to defend the plan originally published in March.
It is understood that the minister in charge of no-deal planning, Michael Gove, is to publish a new set of tariffs by mid-October, although it is expected that the list will be broadly similar to that from earlier in the year.
During a meeting with the Westminster Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee on Monday, the new Defra Secretary Theresa Villiers confirmed that the tariff plan has been reviewed.
There will be the option to make amendments before we move to a permanent tariff arrangement
However, she repeated previous government claims that it was about finding the right balance between keeping prices low to the consumer, while at the same time ensuring that farmers are not faced with unfair competition and price instability.
“There will be the option to make amendments before we move to a permanent tariff arrangement,” she told MPs.
Under the UK plan, it would apply tariffs on the likes of beef that are about half that of the EU, while also offering up a significant 230,000t tariff-free beef quota to all suppliers. Many dairy products would have low or zero tariffs applied, while there are also zero tariffs on the likes of grain and eggs.
Competitively, economically, it is crazy
In Ireland, the UK does not intend imposing any checks or tariffs on goods coming from south to north, yet NI farmers would face a high tariff wall in the opposite direction.
That specific part of the UK plan was queried by DUP MP David Simpson.
“Competitively, economically, it is crazy,” he told Villiers, pointing out that it would potentially devastate a number of sectors within NI agriculture.
We are looking carefully at whether support mechanisms are needed in NI in particular
Responding, Villiers said the government has been developing tools to monitor market prices and to support farmer incomes where necessary.
“We are looking carefully at whether support mechanisms are needed in NI in particular. We are ready to intervene in any sector and prepared to act swiftly. Government has set aside a substantial amount of money for Brexit preparedness,” she said.
Vets
On the issue of export health certificates (EHCs), signed off by vets and required to accompany a product being exported to the EU after Brexit, she confirmed that the number to be issued could increase ten-fold after Brexit.
Defra has signed up over 1,000 vets to certify goods leaving Britain, but there are capacity issues in NI, acknowledged Villiers.
On the issue of future trade deals, the Defra secretary also insisted that the UK government will not allow in chlorine-treated chicken or hormone-treated beef as part of a future US trade deal.
UK must apply again for third-country status from the EU.
We are cautiously optimistic we will get it in time for exit day
Back in early April the UK confirmed that its application to be listed as a third country had been agreed by the EU, allowing it to export live animals and animal products to member states (via border inspection posts, etc) in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
However, when the UK didn’t actually exit the EU in the spring, this listing was withdrawn, meaning that the UK has now had to apply again.
“We are cautiously optimistic we will get it in time for exit day,” Defra secretary Theresa Villiers told MPs on Monday.
Read more
Hogan ‘pleased’ with nomination as Commissioner for Trade
Concerns about Brexit doubles among Irish agri-food SMEs
SHARING OPTIONS: