The UK government is being urged to “remain steadfast and not barter away” greater market access to the US that could “jeopardise the future of already under pressure UK dairy farming businesses”.
In a joint letter to the Prime Minister, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and Dairy UK are warning that increased US access to the UK food and drinks market “risks destabilising UK markets, weakening domestic food security, undermining domestic standards and ultimately reducing the viability and profitability of many dairy farms”.
The letter, which was sent ahead of US President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK this week, accompanies a new NFU report which sets out the differences between the UK and US when it comes to economies of scale, production systems, welfare standards and attitudes to medicine usage and environmental obligations.
NFU dairy board chair Paul Tompkins said: “British dairy is a huge success story and our ambition to grow the value of our sector is strong, making us natural partners in the government’s growth agenda.
“What sets our system apart is the weight we place on animal welfare, traceability and environmental care.
“As part of this, we have built a reputation of trust and confidence with shoppers, a fact echoed in the latest NFU Farmer Favourability survey which found that more than three-quarters of the people surveyed trust British food more than food from the rest of the world.
“This is something we cannot take for granted.”
‘Competitive disadvantage’
He said that farmers in the US operate “under very different constraints”.
“US dairy is produced on a vast scale under different regulatory regimes,” he said.
“Increased access for food imports which are not produced to the same high standards as we adhere to will not only erode the confidence of the public, but will put UK dairy farming businesses at a competitive disadvantage.
“It is vital that the UK maintains its existing tariff protections when it comes to critical agricultural sectors.”
Tompkins said these points have been made “abundantly clear” in the letter to the Prime Minister.
“The UK cannot continue to barter away domestic food security in pursuit of tariff reductions in other sectors which may never materialise,” he said.
“Successive trade deals with New Zealand, Australia and lately India have already seen significant access given to the UK’s highly valued dairy market.
“The future cumulative impact of these trade deals, in such a dynamic global trading environment, cannot be ignored.
“UK farming can give no further concessions without suffering serious impacts to its viability and profitability.
“Any increased access given to the US in the Economic Prosperity Deal currently under negotiation could put our domestic dairy sector at risk.
“Both the NFU and Dairy UK urge the Prime Minister to hold firm.”
‘Unfair competition’
Chief executive of Dairy UK, Judith Bryans said that British dairy farmers and processors “deliver world-class, nutritious products every day, produced to some of the highest welfare and environmental standards in the world”.
“This success cannot be put at risk by a rushed or unbalanced trade deal that leaves our sector exposed to unfair competition from imports, produced under very different conditions,” Bryans said.
“If UK dairy is to thrive as part of the government’s growth agenda and we are to protect our own food security, all future agreements have to be fair, balanced and protect both consumer confidence and the long-term viability of our farmers and businesses.”
