Carol Nolan warns on Brexit threat to Irish agri-food markets
Carol Nolan warned that Brexit threatens Irish agriculture and called for tariff-free access and protections to preserve the UK market's value. She echoed concerns expressed by the IFA and urged the minister and the EU to prioritise measures to protect agri-food exports, standards and trade flows.
Main priorities raised
Carol Nolan set out Brexit priorities focused on protecting Irish agri-sectors, stressing the retention of tariff-free access to the UK and the maintenance of the UK market's value as central goals shared with the IFA and other farming organisations.
Market access and tariff demands
She emphasised the need for tariff-free trade in agricultural products and food, and urged the EU to secure measures that would maintain equivalent standards on food safety, animal health, welfare and the environment. She also called for an application of the common external tariff for imports to both the EU and the UK.
Risk from low-cost imports
Carol Nolan warned that an increase in low-cost food imports into the UK could undermine the value of the UK market and have a devastating effect on the Irish agri-food sector. She argued that potential disruption to trade flows between Ireland and the North of Ireland must be minimised.
IFA's negotiation blueprint
Referencing the IFA's position, she said the EU should set as a strategic objective the maximisation of the future value of the EU farming and food sector. If that outcome is not possible, she recommended negotiating a comprehensive free trade agreement between the EU and the UK that includes the specific agricultural protections she outlined.
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We will arrive at an amicable and respectful agreement, and one that does not bring about major disruption in the Irish agri-sectors. I am aware the Council agenda is not going to deal comprehensively or specifically with agriculture, but I just want to reiterate here my own concerns which are shared by the IFA and other farming organisations. Among the key Brexit priorities must be the retention of tariff-free access to and maintenance of the value of the UK market. The potential disruption to trade flows between Ireland and the North of Ireland must be minimised. In addition, an increase in low-cost food imports that undermines the value of the UK market would have a devastating effect on the Irish agri-food sector. The value of EU agri-food exports cannot be undermined by an increase in low-cost food imports into the UK market. Minister, the IFA believes that the EU must set as a strategic objective in the Brexit negotiations the maximisation of the future value of the EU farming and food sector. If this outcome is not possible, the EU must seek to negotiate a comprehensive free trade agreement between the EU and UK, which would include the following specific elements for agriculture and food tariff-free trade for agricultural products and food and maintenance of equivalent standards on food safety, animal health, welfare and the environment, and an application of the common external tariff for imports to both the EU and the UK. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.
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