27 APRIL 2017

At a meeting in Brussels yesterday (26 April) with EU chief negotiator on Brexit Michel Barnier, ICSA outlined the utter importance of getting the trading relationship with the UK right in the post Brexit environment. ICSA underlined to Mr Barnier the importance of tariff free access to the UK market for the Irish beef and dairy sectors but expressed concern that all the emphasis has been placed on the Brexit divorce while the trading relationships were being long fingered.

Speaking following the meeting, ICSA president Patrick Kent said “A good interim arrangement will be critical to bridge the gap between the Brexit divorce and a long term trade agreement.”

Mr Kent concluded by saying “Mr Barnier has a very good grasp of the Irish position and we are hopeful that the EU will see that if Irish/UK trade is hindered all of Europe will suffer the consequences. If we divert significant quantities of beef or dairy from the UK to continental Europe then everyone will share our Brexit pain.

The solution therefore is for a unified EU 27 strategy to ensure tariff free access to the UK.”

ENDS