Starmer's EU deal ‘risks undercutting farmers'

Telegraph

20-05-2025

Sir Keir Starmer's EU deal risks undercutting British farmers, rural groups have warned.
The UK has secured a veterinary agreement with the bloc in a Swiss-style deal that removes border checks and red tape on agri-food, making it easier to trade with EU countries.
Farming groups have cautiously welcomed measures to make it easier to export goods across the border, but warned that it could lead to a flooding of the markets of EU imports.
Concerns have also been raised about accepting dynamic alignment on plant and animal health laws, which means growers will be subject to European Court of Justice decisions.
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs at Countryside Alliance, warned this could mean 'lower quality' EU imports could crowd out British farmers.
'There are of course benefits to selling more of our fantastic produce abroad and we should seize those opportunities with gusto,' he said.
'But we should avoid a situation where cheaper and lower quality imports flood our markets, undercutting our own farmers and hampering our ability to promote the importance of buying local, seasonal, Great British produce'.
The Prime Minister claimed at the UK-EU summit on Monday that the deal will result in 'lower food prices at the checkout' as a result of making trade easier.
Last month, Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, rejected calls to launch a 'Buy British' campaign in response to Donald Trump 's trade war, telling MPs she did not want an 'inward-looking' approach.
She added it was up to consumers to decide what to purchase at supermarkets.
It comes after a series of unpopular decisions by Labour that affect the farming industry, in particular the scrapping of agricultural property relief (APR).
The inheritance tax reform introduced by the Chancellor means agricultural assets worth more than £1 million, which were previously exempt, will be liable to the 20 per cent tax.
Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers' Union, told the farming minister on Tuesday at the Future Countryside conference 'the last 10 months have led to a challenging environment' for the sector.
Daniel Zeichner said: 'I appreciate how painful and difficult that has been.
'I can probably share with you that it hasn't been the easiest time for me either, because that wasn't the way in which I wanted our relationship to start in Government.
'But again, I have to say that Treasury colleagues were faced with a range of very, very difficult choices in terms of economic inheritance.'
The measure has prompted accusations that Labour does not understand rural communities, a sentiment that had doubled among voters in the six months since the general election.
The deal announced on Monday was welcomed by some farming groups, who have long pushed for a relaxing of red tape when trading with the EU.
The Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement agreed by the Government is expected to shorten waiting times for trucks carrying fresh produce across the border.
Some routine checks on plant and animal products will be removed and British burgers and sausages will once more be allowed into the EU.
Ian Rickman, president of the Farmers' Union of Wales, said the new agreement should 'open the door to ensuring that both food imports and exports are subject to similar controls which provides a level playing field between UK and EU producers'.
But he added: 'Whilst at face value our plant and animal health requirements align with EU standards, we must consider how this may place the UK in a challenging position in future as it no longer has the power, as a formal Member State, to influence European rules and will have to accept the EU's Court of Justice's jurisdiction on the way they are applied.'