The UK Government’s free trade deal with New Zealand will be “damaging” to Scottish farmers and food producers, Scottish ministers have warned.
The agreement will allow much higher quantities of produce to come into the UK tariff-free, which Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon and Trade Minister Ivan McKee have said will mean a “lack of a level playing field” between Scottish and New Zealand farmers.
The Scottish ministers have written to UK Trade Policy Minister Penny Mordaunt to point out a “stark contrast” in the European Union’s free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand which secures the same market access for it exports, but seemingly with better safeguards for its domestic producers.
