THE UK Government has admitted food exports from farming to the EU have plummeted by 20% in real terms since Brexit.
In answer to a written question from SNP MP Stephen Gethins, farming minister Daniel Zeichner said while the Trade and Co-operation Agreement allows zero tariffs and quota trade, the UK leaving the single market and customs union had damaged the level of agri-food exports with a decrease of 20% since 2018.
Imports from the EU have also decreased by 11% since 2018.
Agri-food refers to food produced as a result of agriculture.
Gethins told The National it is no surprise support for Scottish independence is rising when it is becoming “increasingly clear” the Union is becoming more unaffordable.
He said Scottish food and drink producers were being left devastated by Westminster red tape.
“Some of the best food and drink produced anywhere in Europe comes from Scotland and is in high demand,” said Gethins.
“Yet Westminster red tape due to the UK unnecessarily leaving the single market and the customs union has been devastating for those producers. It has been especially hard for smaller producers who are so important to rural and more fragile communities.
“A hard Tory Brexit that threw up needless trade barriers is now a policy entirely owned by this Labour Government. There is no need for this unnecessary and needless economic pain at a time when the UK continues to underperform economically.
“No wonder support for Independence is increasing. Across Scotland communities, urban and rural, are dealing with the devastating impact of Westminster decisions. It is increasingly clear that no matter where you live in Scotland the Union is getting ever more unaffordable.”
Zeichner responded just before Christmas saying: “Although the Trade and Co-operation Agreement allows zero tariffs and zero quota trade, leaving the EU single market and customs union had an impact on the export of agri-food products, as have other changes in trade policy such as new free trade agreements with other countries, and global shocks such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Agri-food trade with the EU has fallen since 2018 in real terms (after adjusting for trade inflation) by 20% (exports) and 11% (imports). However, there is difficulty separating out the impact of the UK leaving the EU from those other factors.
“The majority of UK agri-food exports were still to EU countries in 2023, 57% (£14 billion).”
He insisted the UK Government is working to reset its relationship with Europe to tackle barriers to trade, but added there would be no move to rejoin the single market or customs union.
Gethins – who represents Arbroath and Broughty Ferry – has pushed the UK Government hard on the impact of Brexit since returning to Westminster in July, having had a previous stint as an MP between 2015 and 2019 when he was the SNP's Europe spokesperson.
Earlier this year he lodged a bill seeking an amendment to the Scotland Act 1998 to enable the Scottish Government to set up a Scottish visa, though the UK Government has so far dismissed the idea.
He also accused Labour of “hypocrisy of the highest order” for saying they will not undertake an analysis of the economic impact of the UK leaving the EU in response to another written question.
Elsewhere, when he asked Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy about the impact of Brexit on touring musicians, minister for creative industries and arts Chris Bryant admitted many musicians have said it is not “economically viable or logistically possible” to tour Europe anymore.
The referendum on quitting the European Union was held in 2016 but the UK didn’t formally leave until 2020.
During the referendum Vote Leave campaigners argued that British trade would receive a boost from exiting the European Union.
However, it was reported at the start of 2024 that Brexit has already cost the UK economy around £140bn.
