In the letter the union’s President, John Davies, outlined that opening up zero tariff trade on all imports of agri-products from Australia, and other countries, could cause ‘irreversible damage’ to Wales’ network of family farms, rural communities and the wider Welsh economy.
Mr Davies has urged UK Government to ensure that the interests of these Welsh family farming businesses are safeguarded against any influx of Australian produce entering the UK market as a result of a free trade agreement between the UK and Australia.
In his letter to Welsh Secretary of State Simon Hart MP and Parliament Under-Secretary David TC Davies MP, NFU Cymru President John Davies said:
“There is no doubt in my mind that if we get this crucial process wrong, liberalising UK market access for a highly competitive producer of agri-food products, such as Australia, will mean irreversible damage on Wales’ family farms, our rural communities and indeed the wider rural economy of Wales, which we know to be heavily reliant on a thriving agricultural sector.
“NFU Cymru wants to see international trade outcomes which support our farmers to sustainably grow their businesses and produce food for both domestic and export markets. As it negotiates with potential trading partners around the world, the UK Government must ensure that Wales’ farmers can continue to produce food to the current high environmental, traceability and health and welfare standards of which they are justifiably proud. The UK Government must ensure that they can do so on a level-playing field with producers elsewhere in the world and can maintain access to current markets for domestic produce whilst growing demand at home and abroad.
“Given Australia’s strong offensive interests with regard to agricultural produce, and particular sensitivities for Wales’ red meat sector flowing from a trade deal with Australia, we very much hope that the UK Government’s talk of positive progress in talks means that they have been steadfast in terms of securing important safeguards for Wales’ farmers. Any agreement must be balanced and should not be expedited for the sake of a negotiating ‘win’.
“The UK government has stated that throughout the process of negotiating trade deals it will engage stakeholders to ensure their views inform their approach to negotiations. At such a crucial time for Welsh agriculture I would implore the UK Government to ensure that the interests of Wales’ farmers are safeguarded, and that they are not undercut through unfair competition. The impact of getting this wrong will be far reaching for Welsh farming families and the economy, language and culture of Wales that relies heavily on a prosperous and thriving food and farming sector.”
Earlier this week NFU Cymru added its voice to the UK Farming Roundtable – a group of 19 food and farming organisations from Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland – which set out a list of five key principles that UK Government should adhere to in negotiations over free trade agreements.
Yesterday (Tuesday 18th May) NFU Cymru President John Davies represented Welsh farming interests as part of a press conference with his counterparts from the NFU, NFU Scotland and Ulster Farmers’ Union, where all parties gave a united stand in raising concerns about the perils of unfettered access being granted to UK food markets.
NFU Cymru has also been briefing MPs from across the political spectrum on the detrimental impacts of waiving of tariffs and safeguards on agri-food products in future UK trade deals.
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