EU agri-food chain warns of ‘growing risk’ of no UK-EU trade deal

Ahead of the conclusion of the fourth round of negotiations on the EU-UK future relationship, Copa and Cogeca, Celcaa and FoodDrinkEurope have expressed their concerns on the lack of progress during the first three rounds, and the growing risk that no agreement will be reached before the end of the current transition period on December 31, 2020.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Jun 2020, 13:50 BST

EU agri-food trade with the UK amounted to €58 billion in 2019, and the failure to conclude a zero tariff, zero quota FTA would have serious consequences for the agri-food sector both in the EU and the UK, they have warned.

In a statement they said the introduction of tariffs, combined with the potential for regulatory divergence, would severely disrupt integrated supply chains; their priorities for a bilateral trade agreement focus on limiting that disruption.

The statement continued: “Specifically, it is essential that the future EU-UK relationship ensures:

- No tariffs, no fees or charges, and no quotas.

- Maintaining a level playing field between the EU and the UK, as proposed in the EU draft agreement, which is crucial for guaranteeing fair competition between EU operators and their UK counterparts.

- A high degree of cooperation on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and technical standards, plus minimal divergence in the application of such standards. In addition, it is of the utmost importance to keep a close relationship between the European Food Standards Authority (EFSA) and the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA).

- Customs cooperation to mitigate the burden of customs controls and procedures on business.

- Effective rules of origin to make sure that preferential access benefits only EU and UK operators.

- That the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland is fully implemented in order to protect the integrity of the EU Single Market.

- Mutual protection of existing and future EU and UK Geographical Indications

“Copa and Cogeca, Celcaa and FoodDrinkEurope are particularly concerned about the limited amount of time available in which to conclude and ratify a trade deal. We regret that the UK government is currently opposed to any extension of the post-Brexit transition period beyond 2020. The transition should be of sufficient length for businesses to plan and prepare for any FTA arrangements, and to avoid a cliff-edge situation.

“We urge the consideration of alternative, temporary arrangements that could be implemented from the start of 2021 should it not prove possible to conclude an FTA this year. Such temporary arrangements, which would need to preserve tariff and quota free trade, would afford additional time for negotiators while minimising disruption for operators already coping with significant impacts of Covid-19.”

Related topics:Food Standards AgencyFTA