News in brief:
– The UK and EU have agreed on a major post-Brexit trade deal that cuts red tape for agri-food exports in exchange for extended EU fishing rights in British waters.
– While industry leaders welcomed the move to ease trade, critics raised concerns over sovereignty and unresolved farm labour shortages.
The United Kingdom and European Union have reached a landmark trade and cooperation agreement aimed at easing tensions and boosting trade ties, particularly in the food and agriculture sector.
Announced ahead of a high-level summit in London on May 19, the deal promises reduced red tape and smoother exports for UK agri-food businesses in exchange for extended EU fishing access to British waters until 2038.
Under the new agreement, the UK will align with EU food safety and animal welfare standards, eliminating many export health certificates and border checks.
Officials say the deal will lower costs, cut delays, and restore access for UK goods, including meat, dairy, and sausages, into the EU market, which has seen a 21% drop in exports since Brexit.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the deal a ‘win-win,’ predicting lower food prices and broader supermarket choices for consumers.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the agreement’s push for a common sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) framework, offering ‘more certainty’ for both sides.
The UK government also confirmed that routine checks on plant and animal products between Great Britain and Northern Ireland would be scrapped.
While the deal was welcomed by farming leaders such as the NFU and Dairy UK for easing trade burdens, it sparked criticism from Brexit hardliners who labelled it a ‘surrender’ of sovereignty. Concerns also remain over the exclusion of farm labour provisions, with the seasonal worker shortage still unresolved.
Despite political controversy, industry experts see the agreement as a pivotal step in re-establishing UK-EU agri-trade, with hopes for expanded cooperation in rural development and scientific research. As the UK redefines its role outside the EU, this deal could signal a more pragmatic, trade-focused chapter in its post-Brexit future.
