Some British food, including beef and lamb, would become “uncompetitive overnight” on foreign markets in the event of a no-deal Brexit, food industry representatives told members of parliament on Monday.
A highland cow forages for food in a snow covered field in Pitlochry Scotland, Britain January 12, 2017. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Crashing out of the EU without an agreement would leave producers with customs arrangements set by the World Trade Organization – where agricultural tariffs could top 50 percent, Sarah Baker, from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, said.
The United Kingdom is due to leave the European Union on March 29, but there is no full exit deal and Britain’s ruling party is split over Prime Minister Theresa May’s “Chequers” plan to largely accept a “common rulebook” over goods.
That “Chequers” plan was the least bad option for Britain, industry officials told the UK parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee.
A failure of that plan, and a subsequent departure without an agreement, would leave producers facing heavy tariffs, they added.
“Agriculture is probably the most heavily-protected (sector) and therefore tariffs of above 50 percent are not unusual (under WTO terms),” Baker said. Products including beef, lamb and seed potatoes “would just become uncompetitive overnight,” she added.
The case was particularly pressing in Scotland where agriculture made up a bigger share of the economy than the UK as a whole, she told Reuters after the hearing.
Other products would take time to establish a strong presence outside Europe, said other officials.
“We are ambitious for markets beyond Europe, but at the moment Europe is the ball game,” said James Withers, Chief Executive of Scotland Food & Drink.
Supporters of Brexit say it will let Britain sign its own trade deals with Europe and beyond, while freeing it from what they see as stifling Brussels regulation.
They have also said there is no need to leave without a deal and have accused opponents of Brexit of scare-mongering.
Steve Baker, a former junior Brexit minister who resigned over May’s Chequers proposals in July, told the Press Association on Monday he thought May should seek a Free Trade Agreement under the terms placed on the table by European Council president Donald Tusk in March.
By Elisabeth O’Leary
Source: Reuters
Diageo has today (10 November 2025) announced the appointment of Dave Lewis to the role of CEO and executive director, effective 1 January 2026. Lewis steps into the role following the departure of former CEO Debra Crew, who stepped down in July. Nik Jhangiani, the company’s chief financial officer, has been serving as interim CEO since.
Before joining TBG, Chibe served as CEO of Pabst Brewing Company. His previous roles include president and CEO of Ferrero North America, US chief marketing officer at Anheuser-Busch InBev and senior leadership positions at Wrigley.
Located in Southern Minas Gerais, the brewery aims to enhance the company’s supply chain by bringing production closer to key consumer hubs in Brazil’s Southeast region. With an initial capacity of up to five hectolitres per year, the plant will produce Heineken and Amstel products – both 100% pure malt brands.
