The government today has hailed a new reset with the European Union, which it said will “slash red tape” on food products and will be a boost to the economy.
The deal agreed early this morning and announced today will make “food cheaper, slash red tape, and open up access to the EU market”, in exchange for granting European fishers an additional 12 years of access to British waters.
While there is almost certainly to be criticism of the extension of fishing access, officials argued that the agreed deal will also have huge benefit for fish and seafood exports to the continent.
The deal also includes a deeper defence partnership, agreements on carbon taxes and begins the process of opening talks on a “youth experience scheme”—which would allow young people to work and travel freely in Europe again and mirrors existing schemes the UK has with Australia and New Zealand.
“It’s time to look forward. To move on from the stale old debates and political fights to find common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people,” Starmer said. “We’re ready to work with partners if it means we can improve people’s lives here at home.
“So that’s what this deal is all about—facing out into the world once again, in the great tradition of this nation. Building the relationships we choose, with the partners we choose, and closing deals in the national interest. Because that is what independent, sovereign nations do.”
A key tenet of the agreement is a new deal on agrifoods—called an SPS agreement—which removes red tape on food and drink exports, removing routine checks on animal and plant products completely.
In return, the UK will accept some dynamic alignment on EU food standards and a role for the European court of justice in policing the deal.
It represents a major win for UK consumers and ought to lower food prices and increase choice in supermarkets, with certain products such as burgers and sausages being able to be sold in the UK for the first time since Brexit.
Industry welcomes announcement
Marks & Spencer’s director of food Alex Freudmann welcomed the agreement, saying: “Today’s announcement on trade from the EU-UK Summit is a major step forward.
“An SPS agreement with the EU removes the pointless bureaucracy we face in moving our products across Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and ensures that we can supply the widest range of products at the best possible price to all of our customers. We’re really pleased to see this sort of pragmatic and positive move from the government.”
British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “The removal of veterinary checks is good news for retailers and consumers alike. It will help keep costs down and create greater security in retail supply chains, ensuring the ongoing availability of key food imports for British shoppers.
“As well as supporting growth for exporters to the UK’s biggest export market, retailers operating in the EU will also see a huge reduction in the unnecessary processes, paperwork and administrative burden when exporting goods, supporting our competitiveness abroad.
“A common misunderstanding is that an SPS agreement will mean Britain becomes a rule taker”
“The industry remains keen to see the government and the EU continue to develop our future trading relationship for the benefit of consumers both in the UK and in Europe, and the next steps should include greater alignment on environmental and product safety standards.”
The British Meat Processors Association also welcomed the announcement, saying the government has “managed to achieve what the previous government promised us originally, but didn’t deliver”.
It also dismissed claims a deal would make the UK a “rule taker” dictated to by Europe.
“A common misunderstanding is that an SPS agreement will mean Britain becomes a ‘rule taker’. In reality, we must comply with the rules of any of our trading partners if we want to export to them—just like America must comply with British rules if they want to send us their products. This means we have been aligned with EU rules and standards all along.
“The difference this new deal will make is that Britain, unlike their other third country trading partners, will benefit from true, unfettered access to their market and massively reduced trade friction. It will boost trade and make us more competitive.”
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