Welsh farming unions seek assurances from May on Brexit deal

Theresa May met with farming unions and wide-ranging discussed a number of issues affecting the Welsh agricultural industry
Theresa May met with farming unions and wide-ranging discussed a number of issues affecting the Welsh agricultural industry

Two Welsh farming unions have called on the Prime Minister to give assurances to farmers that they will not lose out under a final deal after 2020.

The meeting between Theresa May and the NFU Cymru and Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) took place at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair this week, as the Prime Minister tours the UK in her effort to win public support for her Brexit deal.

Parliament will decide in a vote on 11 December on whether to accept or reject the deal.

The meeting between the two farming unions and Mrs May featured a wide-ranging discussion around a number of issues affecting the agricultural industry, including the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU and animal welfare and production standards.

She said her Brexit proposals will deliver for the Welsh farming industry, and protect food exports like Welsh lamb.

'We need assurances'

However, the FUW told the Prime Minister that while the EU Withdrawal deal would give Welsh farmers welcome breathing space, assurances were needed that Welsh agriculture would not lose out under a final deal after 2020.

The EU and the UK have agreed to a transition process of 21 months — from 29 March 2019 until the end of 2020 — before the country leaves the member bloc completely.

FUW President, Glyn Roberts said: “The Withdrawal Agreement agreed by the Cabinet and the EU contains almost 600 pages of details regarding what would happen during a 21 month period, and those pages contain many important assurances for agriculture and other industries.

“By comparison, the Political Declaration which is part of the same package and concerns what might happen in the subsequent decades is just 36 pages long, and far more ambiguous in terms of the implications for agriculture and other industries.

“We fully understand why that is the case, but 21 months will go by very quickly, and I made it clear to Mrs May we really need assurances from the UK Government about their commitment to using that time to work out a deal which is positive for Welsh and UK agriculture.”

'Lower standards'

Mr Roberts also said that statements by some politicians about trade deals which would open up the UK to imports of cheap food produced to lower standards than those required in the UK were a cause for significant concern.

He added: “An additional 21 months of stability would be welcome, but we also need a commitment that after that period we will not open the floodgates to lower quality imports and that maintaining access to the EU market where most of our exports go will be a priority.”

The FUW has been consistent in its view that the best way to minimise disruption to agriculture is to remain within the Single Market and the Customs Union after leaving the EU.

“Anything that falls short of that will bring with it obstacles in terms of trade and other issues, with inevitable consequences for our industry and economy,” Mr Roberts said.

'Excluded'

NFU Cymru, along with British Meat Processing Association, voiced concerns to Mrs May over Brexit’s potential impact on the red meat sector in Wales.

Outlining the importance of the Welsh food sector to the economy, both organisations said that Brexit “is the single biggest challenge facing the red meat sector within Wales.”

Around a third of the Welsh lamb crop is exported and over 90% of this goes to the EU.

NFU Cymru Deputy President, Aled Jones said: “A ‘no deal’ Brexit scenario would leave Welsh farmers in the nightmare situation of being excluded from our largest export market.

“A ‘no deal’ Brexit would essentially price Welsh farmers out of the market - we could not operate effectively when imposed with WTO tariff rates, as well as being subject to the regulatory barriers that come with exporting as a third country.”

He added: “We understand that there are still significant political hurdles for the Prime Minister’s Brexit proposals to clear and if such approval is not secured then NFU Cymru will need to reassess its position.

“In the meantime, we strongly encourage politicians across all parties to put their political differences aside to secure a future that is in the interest of the £7 billion Welsh food and farming sector.”

NFU Cymru Livestock Board Chairman, Wyn Evans said the threat of a 'no deal' scenario is “still at the door” and farmers are “rightly worried”. He said it is time political uncertainty was “put to bed”.