| UPDATED: 13:05, Wed, Mar 17, 2021
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The Brexit trade deal was implemented on January 1, but has not resulted in an end to tensions over fishing rights. The EU s restrictions on UK exports of shellfish have led to fury in the UK, and it was reported last month that the UK was considering retaliatory action. The Sunday Telegraph reported the Government was considering ending a series of post-Brexit continuity agreements it has with Brussels, which could restrict imports of European mineral water and seed potatoes.
EU-bound consignments for January 2021 were down 63% compared to the previous year. Within that average figure, Scottish fish and shellfish exporters were hit the hardest, with exports down by 83%, but the meat and dairy sectors reported exports falls of 59% and 50% respectively. Scotland Food and Drink s James Withers pointed out that Covid could not be solely blamed as similar falls were not recorded during the first Lockdown. “There is no sugar-coating these statistics, they are grim, said Mr Withers. We know Covid has reduced demand and there was stockpiling of products before the end of the year, however, right at the heart of this trade collapse is Brexit and the creation of huge, new, non-tariff trade barriers with our biggest export market.
PREMIUM
Boris Johnsonâs hard Brexit has caused major woe, with the erection of non-tariff barriers hitting exports to the EU Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA IT SEEMS incredible that the menacing narrative evident for some time now – that Brexit is done and shining a light on its dire consequences is sheer impertinence – has become more rather than less embedded as the actual effects of the folly manifest themselves. This narrative has been going on to some extent since the 2016 Leave vote, although it has certainly picked up momentum since the UK’s technical Brexit on January 31 last year and intensified very significantly following European single market departure at the close of 2020.
TALK about twisting a knife in an open wound! Well that’s exactly what the UK Government is doing to UK food exporters by deciding to grant EU imports a free ride into the UK for a further 6-12 months. Checks on imports were due to be introduced in stages from April 1 and from July 1, but the Government is now having to U-turn on its post-Brexit policy due to a lack of infrastructure at UK ports. Quite rightly, there had been concerns that delays at the ports could lead to empty supermarket shelves which would impact on consumers. Many businesses here that rely on imports from the EU are breathing a sigh of relief, but it doesn’t offer much consolation for UK food exporters who have had to grapple with untested systems since January 1.