Stricter controls to keep UK farming from “race to the bottom”

The UK farming sector will be subject to stricter environmental standards following the country’s departure from the EU, the country's agriculture minister said Tuesday, limiting the likelihood of British exporters undercutting other European sellers.

“We should not seek to compete on the basis of a race to the bottom, but by occupying the high ground of strong environmental, welfare and quality standards,” Michael Gove told the annual conference of the National Farmers’ Union Tuesday.

“We should not and will not lower environmental or animal welfare standards as part of any new trade deals,” he said.

But the speech did not shine any further light on the UK’s trade policy, an issue which has been a cause for concern among British producers and exporters who are struggling to plan for the new trading environment without details.

Opening the conference, NFU president Meurig Raymond spoke of the need for frictionless trade with the EU, reiterating previous demands for more clarity around the UK government’s policies.

The UK is a net exporter of wheat, with annual overseas sales averaging more than 2 million mt over the past three marketing years – the bulk of which has gone to the EU.

Carrying the campaign to Europe 

The NFU event comes on the same day as David Davis – the minister tasked with delivering the UK’s departure from the EU – was in Austria to reassure business leaders on the UK’s future relationship with the bloc.

Davis told the Austrian audience the UK intends to maintain similar standards and regulations to the EU, with the intention of keeping British exporters ability to sell into the EU.

An agreement on the issue would potentially spare the agriculture trade from some of the most drastic changes Brexit brings, abating fears the UK may be forced into WTO tariff rates with its neighbour.