Michael Gove to close the door on cheap food imports to avoid spike in cost after Brexit
The Environment Secretary will pledge to make sure British food producers do not lose out to foreign imports
MICHAEL Gove will close the door to cheap food imports after Brexit by promising to protect farmers from any move to eliminate tariffs under a no deal.
The Government is considering cutting all tariffs to zero to combat spikes in food prices if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal.
But in a major speech to the National Farmers Union today the Environment Secretary will pledge to “use the tools” at the Government’s disposal to make sure British food producers don’t face a “competitive disadvantage” with foreign imports.
He will also step up his opposition to lowering food standards to win lucrative trade deals.
Mr Gove will say he will again rule out any compromise in food standards “in pursuit of trade deals” in a move that threatens to harm Britain’s chances of getting a bumper trade deal with America after Brexit.
Mr Gove will say: “We have been clear that we will not lower our standards in pursuit of trade deals, and that we will use the tools we have at our disposal - tariffs, quotas and legislation - to make sure standards are protected and you are not left at a competitive disadvantage.”
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The NFU will use the conference in Birmingham to call for a new watchdog to be set up to make sure imported food meets the same standards as British produce after Brexit.
The commission, made up of Government officials, farming bodies and other organisations, should make recommendations on how to ensure environmental, safety and animal welfare standards are maintained and how trade deals can be scrutinised by Parliament and industry in the future.
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