THE biggest worry Scottish farmers have over Brexit is that the rest of the EU will impose import tariffs meaning that our produce will be uncompetitive on the European marketplace.
Whether the deal is ‘hard or soft’ the prospect of these tariffs being imposed must be regarded as remote, as the rest of the EU want access to our markets for a range of goods even more than we need access to theirs.
Take the Republic of Ireland as an example. Farmers and food organisations there are far more concerned over Brexit than many in the UK.
And no wonder – access to the UK food market is worth circa £20billion to them and supports nearly quarter of a million jobs in the Emerald Isle.
You can bet your bottom dollar, therefore, that the Irish, along with all the other major exporters (France et al) to the UK, will be prepared to do a deal, no matter what they pronounce in public.
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