UK Agricultural Group Requests Import Tariffs on Agricultural Products When EU Leaves Without Agreement-Reuters News-International

[London 30th Reuters]-UK National Farmers' Union (NFU) letter to Prime Minister Johnson on the 30th, if it leaves the European Union (EU) without agreement, eggs, dairy products, horticultural products, grains, etc. Called on to impose import duties.

If the agreement is withdrawn, the UK agricultural products for the EU are expected to be subject to export tariffs, but the previous May administration will avoid the so-called “hard border” (strict border control) with Ireland this March. It announced that it would eliminate tariffs on many imported products, including dairy and agricultural products.

NFU Chairman Minette Butters pointed out that export tariffs on agricultural products are likely to generate surplus agricultural products in the domestic market, and that the elimination or reduction of import duties will also increase the downward pressure on domestic producer prices. When leaving the EU without agreement, he requested that the tariff elimination plan on the border with Ireland be reviewed.

He also mentioned that British agriculture would be a catastrophe due to the EU withdrawal without agreement, and that the EU withdrawal should be done in a smooth and orderly manner. The British government said it needed to revise its tariff regime and reduce the damage caused by uninformed withdrawal to British agriculture.