Agri-food tariff threat to Scottish consumers and producers

Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed a call by the Scottish Government on Westminster calling for the setting of applied tariffs for imports to the UK.

It comes in the absence of a trade agreement between the UK and European Union, which means the same tariffs would apply to imports to the UK from the EU as from third countries.

For agri-food products, these tariffs could be considerable with potentially consequences for both consumers and producers.

As a result, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy Fergus Ewing has put forward a proposal for the targeted use of tariff rate quotas to achieve a balance in protecting both consumer and producer interests.

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

“The UK Government must find a sensible and sensitive approach to the setting of applied tariffs for imports.

“This issue is particularly of importance with regard to agri-food products particularly in the absence of a trade agreement between the UK and European Union.

“The Cabinet Secretary has provided a proposal which aims to achieve a balance in the protection of both consumer and producer interests, as well as maintaining negotiating capital.

“I would urge the UK Government to give timely consideration to this proposal as there is no time to waste.”