CLAIMS that Boris Johnson’s new trade deal with New Zealand will benefit Scottish farmers are “utterly fanciful”, Downing Street has been told, as Holyrood complained it was frozen out of the negotiations.
The agreement cuts tariffs on exports between the UK and New Zealand, meaning dairy products and red meat will be easier to import to Britain.
But farmers, the SNP and the Scottish Government have all raised serious financial and environmental concerns about the arrangement, which has been hailed by Tory ministers.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack welcomed the “hugely exciting” deal, while Boris Johnson claimed it marked “a fantastic week for Global Britain”.
UK International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan insisted the agreement was “win-win”. She told British farmers they should not be worried by the deal and said it was a “possibility” they could start sending lamb to New Zealand. “It delivers for families, workers and businesses across Britain, and sets the stage for greater cooperation between our two nations on global challenges like digital trade and climate change,” the Tory minister commented.
Yet the Scottish Government says it wasn’t consulted about the deal whatsoever during 16 months of negotiations.
And Jim Fairlie, a farmer and SNP MSP, rubbished claims the arrangement would benefit Scottish producers.
He told The National: “Yet again Boris Jonson and the UK Government have completely failed the farming communities throughout Scotland. Whether it’s beef lamb or dairy there is absolutely nothing in this deal to benefit Scotland’s farming families.
“The comments from Anne Marie Trevelyan claiming that British lamb could be eaten in New Zealand are utterly fanciful, demonstrate a total lack of understanding of the industry, and yet again exposes the lack of real commitment to our climate change targets.”
He added: “We should be working incredibly hard to maximise markets for Scotland’s farmers, not throwing the doors open for some of the world’s biggest agri producers to flood our domestic market with red meat that potentially doesn’t meet the same standards our farmers adhere to.
“Clearly Scotland needs to be independent or our vital industries will be pawned by a UK Government that simply does not care about our farming, fishing or food and drink sectors.”
READ MORE: Scotland's older people 'shafted' as Tories break key pensions pledge
The Scottish Government, meanwhile, warned the deal would not compensate for the losses of leaving the European Union and single market.
A spokesman said: "Any deal with New Zealand will not remotely offset the damage to our economy caused by Brexit.
"Even the UK Government's own scoping assessment published last year said a deal with New Zealand would result in zero increase in GDP and that the agriculture and semi-processed food sectors would be likely to lose out.
"Aside from the economic arguments of seeking new deals with markets thousands of miles away while putting up barriers to trade with our European neighbours, the climate change implications of long-distance trade must also be considered."
He continued: "The recent AIP with Australia has caused great concern among Scotland's farmers and crofters and we said at the time this would set a precedent for New Zealand and called on the UK Government to protect Scotland's food producers.
"Nevertheless, it has committed to remove tariffs on meat and dairy products from New Zealand and it must now bring forward proposals to protect these sectors in Scotland and mitigate the cumulative impacts of the deals."
Yet Conservative chiefs were bullish about the potential benefits of the agreement struck with Jacinda Ardern.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack commented: "This modern and progressive trade deal with New Zealand is hugely exciting for Scotland and the whole of the UK.
"Our thriving financial services sector, whisky and food producers are set to receive a boost, while our auto-industry will benefit from the removal of tariffs of between 5% and 10% on vehicles.
"As well as bringing new opportunities to Scottish farmers who produce globally sought after produce, the deal also lays the foundations for access to the fast-growing Asian market through accession to CPTPP – a huge free trade area of 11 Pacific nations with a GDP of £9 trillion in 2019.
"I know our New Zealand trade envoy, David Mundell, will be banging the drum for Scottish exports as this great deal takes effect."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel