Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers Association (NFU), which represents the interests of 55,000 food producers in England and Wales, said the reduction of the tariff wall on imported food “does not even begin to address the problem” of its increase. grocery store. prices. The cabinet is debating whether to reduce tariffs on foods such as oranges and rice, which are difficult to produce in the UK, as a way to reduce prices. Ministers, including Boris Johnson, are pushing for tariff cuts, the Sun said Monday, as a way to help families manage rising inflation. Minette Batters on her farm near Salisbury, Wiltshire. Photo: Adrian Sherratt / The Observer Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 5.9% year-on-year through mid-March, according to official National Statistics Office (ONS) data. However, other cabinet members, including International Trade Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan, are opposed to such plans, believing that the UK’s decision to cut tariffs unilaterally would put it at a disadvantage in negotiating trade agreements after Brexit. “We have the third most affordable food here in the world and with the retail price war happening, we probably have the most affordable,” Batters told reporters, adding that she did not believe lower food prices would be sustainable. The conflict in Ukraine – a major producer of wheat and sunflower oil – fuels fears of global food shortages. Batters said: “It is to ensure that everyone continues to produce what they are good at, so as not to lead to shortages in availability, as this will only lead to further inflation. “Just lowering the tariff wall does not even begin to address the problem. It is a very complex problem that needs a long-term strategy to deal with in the short, medium and long term. “It’s misleading for consumers to just think ‘lower the tariff wall’ and that solves the problem.” Batters spoke as NFU outlined its plans to increase UK agri-food exports by 30% by 2030, bringing the total value to more than 30 30 billion, finding ways for farmers to sell their produce in most overseas markets. Subscribe to the daily Business Today email or follow the Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk The NFU calls on the government to work “in partnership” with food producers to target new export markets as ministers travel the world negotiating free trade agreements, stressing how the industry works with ministers in other countries such as Australia, where farmers are included. trade shipments. Batters had previously criticized the government’s “rival” approach to farmers and accused ministers of using food producers as a “pawn” in post-Brexit trade deals with major food producers Australia and New Zealand. Farmers have expressed concern that free trade agreements could lead to an increase in cheap imports flooding the UK market, leaving them unable to compete.
