The beef and dairy sector in Northern Ireland will struggle greatly to compete with products from non-EU countries, at prices well below the EU average.
Economist John FitzGerald, writing for the Irish Times, said that the pressure of tariffs on Ireland’s largest market for such products would be ‘hugely problematic’.
He added, however, that the dairy sector would be somewhat better off as there is a much lower gap between EU and non- prices.
FitzGerald also suggested that Northern Irish produce has been tailored to UK taste, and could struggle on the continent.
Direct Payments
He also revealed that, unlike Ireland, the UK will stop receiving the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding after 2022.
He added that there is not much in place than can replace the CAP as a direct payment to farmers in the UK.
“Under the new UK trade regime all imports of agricultural produce will face tariffs, which will be lower than those in the EU,” FitzGerald wrote in a column in the Irish Times.
“This will mean lower-cost third-country imports into the UK will grow, which will depress the prices UK farmers will receive for their produce.”
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
