DUBLIN: The UK and Irish food processing industries are highlighting priorities to make an early agreement on future trade.
An open letter by 35 representative bodies in the UK food and drink supply chain has called on the government to make an early agreement on future trade with the Republic of Ireland as the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.
Acting under the umbrella body of the Food and Drink Federation, the signatures include the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Industry (NIFDA), which represents a large cross-section of the NI food processing industry, and the Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association (NIMEA), which represents the beef and lamb factories in the north. The letter was also signed by the National Farmers Union and the Ulster Farmers Union.
The letter highlights that the Republic of Ireland buys more from the UK food industry than the United States, China, Russia, Brazil, Canada and Japan combined, accounting for almost one fifth of total UK food and drink exports. It also highlights the two-way flow of trade with the dependence of Irish exporters on the UK for cheese and beef in particular, while 80% of the Republic of Ireland’s flour comes from Northern Ireland.
The letter by the UK Food and Drink Federation and supporting comments by FDII comes on the eve of the UK prime minister triggering Article 50 to commence the process of leaving the EU.
That could come as early as tomorrow and is promised before the end of March.
