Dairy product brought across the border for processing and export will not be eligible for tariff-free export to many countries with EU trade agreements under the current Brexit deal, Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus has warned.
The Midlands Northwest MEP believes that the dairy sector is one of many sectors that will suffer significant disruption if protective measures are not put in place.
“The current deal would not allow an exported product to be partly produced in the North and partly produced in the south.
“Dairy accounts for 45% of those product components which cross the border to be added to products eventually going overseas. A third of the raw milk produced in the north is moved south for further processing.”
Cliff edge
MacManus has called on the Government to up their efforts to avoid this scenario.
“In the short-term, the Irish Government must double its efforts to secure a commitment from the EU that a solution will be found to avert this cliff edge for the diary sector.
“This may involve talks with the EU’s trade partners, about making small changes to the rules of origin conditions in trade deals. Such an amendment is unlikely to have any destabilising effect on the deal.”
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Dairy product brought across the border for processing and export will not be eligible for tariff-free export to many countries with EU trade agreements under the current Brexit deal, Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus has warned.
The Midlands Northwest MEP believes that the dairy sector is one of many sectors that will suffer significant disruption if protective measures are not put in place.
“The current deal would not allow an exported product to be partly produced in the North and partly produced in the south.
“Dairy accounts for 45% of those product components which cross the border to be added to products eventually going overseas. A third of the raw milk produced in the north is moved south for further processing.”
Cliff edge
MacManus has called on the Government to up their efforts to avoid this scenario.
“In the short-term, the Irish Government must double its efforts to secure a commitment from the EU that a solution will be found to avert this cliff edge for the diary sector.
“This may involve talks with the EU’s trade partners, about making small changes to the rules of origin conditions in trade deals. Such an amendment is unlikely to have any destabilising effect on the deal.”
Read more
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Down to Agribusiness podcast: Brexit deal in sight and Glanbia profits
Coveney wants NI access to EU deals
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