British food exports to the European Union have dropped by about £3bn each year since Brexit, according to a report from the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy (CITP). The research indicates that, on average, food exports from the UK to the EU have decreased by over 16% in the three years since Britain left the single market. This decline is mainly due to new trade barriers, such as additional checks and paperwork at the border, which have increased costs and caused delays for exporters.
The report highlights the long-term effects of Brexit on trade, especially in the food sector, despite other global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Trade between the UK and the EU has not bounced back to levels seen before Brexit, and experts worry that these challenges could continue unless significant changes are made to the trading environment.
Industry representatives and advocates are urging the UK government to negotiate a veterinary agreement, known as a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) deal, with the EU to help tackle these barriers. Such an agreement would aim to lessen unnecessary inspections and simplify the movement of animal and plant products between the UK and the EU. However, the report also points out that discussions on this topic have been slow, and there is no clear resolution yet.
In addition to the SPS issue, the report states that the UK and EU have moved apart in several regulatory areas since Brexit. For instance, the EU has adopted stricter rules on pesticide use, veterinary medicines, and packaging, while the UK has kept tough animal welfare regulations. This difference in rules has made trade more complicated, as companies must deal with varying standards in both regions.
Emma Knaggs, Deputy Chief Executive of European Movement UK, stressed that a new SPS agreement would reduce trade difficulties and lower costs for UK exporters. The UK government recognizes that such an agreement could improve trade, but a government spokesperson noted that final details are still being negotiated between both sides.
As discussions continue, those in the industry remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached to ease the financial and logistical challenges faced by British food exporters.
Stay current with supply chain report news at The Supply Chain Report. For international trade resources, visit ADAMftd.com.
#BritishFoodExports #BrexitImpact #FoodTrade #UKEUTrade #CITPReport #TradeBarriers #SPSAgreement #VeterinaryAgreement #SanitaryPhytosanitaryDeal #EURegulations #AnimalWelfare #ExportChallenges #BrexitTradeEffects #FoodExportDecline #BrexitTradeBarriers #RegulatoryDifferences #EUFoodTrade #UKExports #SupplyChainChallenges #TradeNegotiations #EmmaKnaggs #EuropeanMovementUK
- Latest
- Trending
