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Welsh Farmers claim New Zealand trade deal is ‘undermining UK agriculture’

21 Oct 2021 2 minute read
Sheep in transit. Photo by waldopepper is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

The UK Government has been accused of undermining farming and food security following the announcement of a new trade deal with New Zealand yesterday.

The deal, which has been agreed in principle, will see a big increase in lamb exports to the UK and will ultimately remove all tariffs within 15 years and there are also big increases in the amounts of beef, butter and cheese allowed under the agreement.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “The UK Government’s own figures show that the economic benefits for the UK of this deal are microscopic. That’s not surprising given the population of New Zealand is lower than that of Scotland.

“The winners in this deal will clearly be New Zealand as it allows them to up their exports of food to the UK, representing a major threat to Welsh and GB farmers as well as to our food security.

“In year 1 the deal would allow a 30% increase in the amount of New Zealand lamb that can be imported to the UK duty free (i.e. without tariffs), with this figure rising to 44% after five years, followed by further increases and ultimately the removal of all limits after 15 years.”

“This deal, coupled with the Australian trade deal announced in June, leaves little doubt that the UK Government is intentionally or carelessly undermining UK agriculture, food production and food security.

“The removal of farm support and increase in red tape and regulations for UK farmers at the same time trade deals are being struck with countries with far lower regulatory standards adds to this impression.”

‘Great’

Currently trade between the UK and New Zealand is worth just over £2 billion but is expected to grow following the conclusion of 16 months of negotiations.

Announcing the deal yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “This is a great trade deal for the United Kingdom, cementing our long friendship with New Zealand and furthering our ties with the Indo-Pacific.

“It will benefit businesses and consumers across the country, cutting costs for exporters and opening up access for our workers.”


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Mark
Mark
2 years ago

The perfect people to answer or reply to this question would be all the tory mp’s and ms’s especially the likes of James Evans and RTD who all have connections to the farming community and are very chummy with the less than useless tory enabling NFU

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Exactly. The Welsh Conservatives championed Brexit, especially Tory mafia Don Andrew RT Davies, who always stated his farming credentials during Senedd debates. He couldn’t run nose let alone a country. And why these Conservative cretins should never get their hands on the reigns of power in Wales. Never!

Last edited 2 years ago by Y Cymro
Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

Most farmers in Wales voted for Brexit. It was they who gave the Tories the greenlight to proceed with Britain leaving the EU, whose actions also facilitated the Conservative attack on Welsh devolution including areas devolved like Agriculture.& Environment. What on earth did they think would happen? Surely they were aware this Tory idocracy out of desperation would seek trade deals from Commonwealth countries around the world, Australia & New Zealand included, who I might add, would always want to sell their cheaper unregulated meat & poultry produce to Welsh consumers as part of any deal. I find it’s crying… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Y Cymro
Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
2 years ago
Reply to  Y Cymro

If that is true and it was common knowledge between farmers, did they act in consort, and why was there no one there savvy or clued in enough to argue for their welfare…the FUW perhaps? Farming TV and media and print where were you ? Chwarae Teg

j humphrys
j humphrys
2 years ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

Calling all farmers. Ditch Brexit and the “Welsh Conservatives” and join us on the INDY train! Croeso!

Mark
Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

The NFU knew how damaging brexit would be to UK farmers, but they decided not to advise individuals how to vote, there’s a very clear video on youtube of Fay Jones being interviewed in her old job working for the NFU in Brussels before becoming an mp, saying exactly that.

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago

I wouldn’t be too worried about this, Welsh farming is doomed anyway but NZ lamb is not that problematic. All meat from Aus/NZ arrives in Europe on giant freezer ships which dock at Europoort. The meat is then trans-shipped to the UK by smaller vessels thus becoming an EU export. After January when all the cans kicked down the road by Johnson have to be implemented I doubt if any will be affordable in the UK as vets fees and EU tariffs get applied. We don’t know exactly what will happen in 2022 because Frost and Johnson don’t have a… Read more »

Barry Pandy
Barry Pandy
2 years ago

To all the farmers who voted for Brexit, I get no pleasure in this but: the Remainers told you so. The farmers get screwed over by the Tories time and time again and yet they still vote Tory. I sometimes wonder just how thick they are and if they are worth the hassle. One part of me thinks: to hell with them, they voted for it let them suffer the consequences, at least we’ll getter cheaper food now. Perhaps it would be better to cover the farms with wind turbines, they’ll probably generate more money for Wales along with better… Read more »

Grayham Jones
2 years ago

Welsh Famers have got to start fighting for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 kick all English party’s out of wales that’s the Tories Labour and all Brexit party’s start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in wales it’s time for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

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