Government NI Protocol plans are rash, says FUW

Government proposals to change the Northern Ireland Protocol risk plunging the UK into a trade war with Europe, the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has warned in a strongly worded letter to prime minister Boris Johnson.

The union admitted the protocol needed changing to ease restrictions on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, but said proposals set out in the NI Protocol Bill to act unilaterally could spark retaliation by the EU, which may target food exports.

This would add to the already extreme economic pressures on farming and other businesses, the FUW wrote, and compound the difficulties inherent in the one-way system of border checks, which allow imports to come into the UK almost inspection-free.

It questioned why the government had shown a reluctance to reach a negotiated agreement, despite Brussels offering numerous improvements. And it pointed out that the government’s unilateral approach appeared to breach international law.

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The FUW stressed that the checks imposed to protect the Republic of Ireland’s land border with the UK were clearly set out in the Brexit withdrawal agreement, as signed by the Westminster government.

“The particular impacts of the NI Protocol were very clear and fully understood by those who took the time to read the EU withdrawal agreement,” said the letter.

The latest course of action suggests the UK government has a “cavalier approach” to international law, the FUW said.

It also suggests the government had no intention of honouring its word at the time of signing.

In light of such concerns, the FUW asked the prime minister to halt all unilateral actions and to re-enter negotiations with Brussels.

EU trade booming

The value of maintaining strong trade links to Europe are underlined by latest statistics from the Welsh government, which show food sector exports from Wales breaking the £650m mark in 2021 – a  record level.

Of the four UK nations, Wales had the largest increase in food and drink exports between 2020 and 2021, with total value up by £89m (16%).

Meat and meat products accounted for the highest proportion of export value at £187m, while cereals and cereal products saw a year-on-year increase of 173%, from £51m to £139m.

Eight of the top 10 Welsh food and drink export destinations were within the EU. The Republic of Ireland remained the highest single value destination at £113m, followed by France (£100m), Netherlands (£49m) and Germany (£44m).