ZCZC
BCN-19
IRELAND-BRITAIN-EU-BREXIT-TRADE-TARIFFS
Irish farmers fear new tariffs in case of no-deal Brexit
DUBLIN, March 14, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – British plans to impose tariffs on
Irish agri-food imports in the event of a no-deal Brexit would be
“disastrous” — potentially wiping out the industry, the Irish Farmers’
Association warned Wednesday.
“Our most exposed sectors, particularly beef, simply will not survive the
kind of tariffs being talked about,” association president Joe Healy said.
“This would have a devastating effect in the rural economy.”
The British government earlier on Wednesday said it would not apply
tariffs on most EU imports if the nation leaves the bloc without a deal on
March 29.
The aim is to prevent a jump in prices and the disruption of supply
chains.
But charges would be applied on key Irish exports such as beef, lamb,
pork, poultry and some dairy to support British producers, the government
said.
Britain is Ireland’s largest trading partner in the agri-food sector by
far.
In 2017 the country received 38 per cent of Ireland’s agri-food exports
according to government figures, making the Republic uniquely exposed to
tariff hikes.
According to the IFA, Ireland exports 50 percent of its beef to Britain —
making it vulnerable to a “direct hit” of 800 million euros ($900 million)
under the proposed no-deal system.
“If we’re talking about tariffs, we are talking about a lose-lose
scenario,” Irish minister of European Affairs Helen McEntee told RTE.
Britain has said it will not impose a tariff regime or customs border on
goods moving across the land border from Ireland to Northern Ireland.
This raises the prospect of potential abuses if Irish goods are
transported to mainland Britain via Northern Ireland.
“This regime is only temporary as we recognise that there are challenges
associated with this approach,” the government said in a statement.
BSS/AFP/HR/1005