Headmaster:
The flow of agri-food exports to the United Kingdom so far this year has registered sharp falls in certain products compared to the same months of 2020. Data available for January and February.
And it is that after the ratification of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, analyzing the latest data available from DataComex, a 4.9% drop in exports has been observed since January, affecting in particular exports of meat products ( -33%), fats and oils (-30%) and food preparations (-22%). By product, the falls in exports of products such as pork meat (-61%) or olive oil (-35%) are very notable.
According to this data, it can be emphasized that the current uncertainties around trade with the Anglo-Saxon country, especially with regard to sanitary and phytosanitary controls at the border, could cause a greater drop in exports.
There is special concern in the sector regarding the need to have sanitary and phytosanitary export certificates for products such as meat, milk or vegetables, Already needed and whose bureaucracy could slow down even more the pace of exports and, if maintained over time, could have a strong impact for the state agri-food sector and especially for the Gironí.
It should be remembered that the United Kingdom is one of the main commercial partners of Spain at the agri-food level, accounting for 8% of total Spanish exports and occupying fifth place in the country’s export ranking at the EU level with a total of 4,000 million euros and a positive balance of 2,920 million according to the latest official data from the Ministry.
The European production model and the principle of reciprocity must be defended. Finally, remember that the approval by the EU of the Trade Agreement with London could provide the Union with tools to defend its interests against possible breaches of the United Kingdom in the conditions agreed for Brexit.
Faced with this situation that seems to be getting worse, we can ask ourselves if it is the effect of the pandemic or Brexit. I think of both, especially Brexit.
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