London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Mar 14, 2026

General election 2019: Farming union casts doubt on Boris Johnson's trade pledge

General election 2019: Farming union casts doubt on Boris Johnson's trade pledge

A Welsh farmers' leader has cast doubt on the prime minister's claim that his Brexit deal will ensure no tariffs or quotas for their produce.

Boris Johnson said access to EU markets would be "absolutely protected" while the UK can strike new deals elsewhere.

NFU Cymru President John Davies said farmers had no certainty about access to EU markets until "the ink is dry" on a post-Brexit trade agreement.

He said securing a withdrawal agreement was only the first stage of Brexit.

It follows Mr Johnson's visit to Wales on Monday to launch the Conservatives' Welsh manifesto for next month's general election.

Speaking at Bangor-on-Dee, near Wrexham, he said: "The great thing about the deal that we have is that it is zero tariff - it is zero quota.

"It means that we can come out with a deal which keeps farming absolutely protected for its markets in the EU.

"[It] enables us to protect those arrangements but also enables us to get on to find new markets for Welsh produce."

The withdrawal agreement with the EU, which Mr Johnson hopes will be passed by Parliament following the election, guarantees no tariffs or quotas during a transition period due to end in December 2020.

A political declaration on future relations beyond that date states that "the economic partnership should through a Free Trade Agreement ensure no tariffs, fees, charges or quantitative restrictions across all sectors".

However, the commitment is not legally binding and has yet to be negotiated.

Mr Davies said: "This can only amount to a statement of intent as to our future trading relationship with our nearest and most valuable export market.

"Until such a time as the trade negotiations are concluded and the ink is dry on the page, then I am afraid that we do not have any certainty about the level of access we will have to the markets of the EU27."

The NFU Cymru leader added that even if a free trade deal could be struck, he was concerned about the potential impacts of regulatory checks on trade with the EU.

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said the prime minister was "either deliberately misleading people or does not know what his own [EU] Withdrawal Agreement entails".

"The only way to guarantee tariff and quota free access to European markets for Welsh farmers is to remain in the EU," she said.


Analysis by Chris Morris, BBC Reality Check correspondent


The aspiration to have a zero-tariff, zero-quotas trade deal is all very well, but it's not the only - or even the most important - part of the equation.

The EU knows Boris Johnson wants to have the freedom to diverge from EU rules and regulations.

But the more the UK does that in the future, the more complicated its access to the EU single market will be.

That applies to farmers just as much as anyone else, so no one can guarantee at this stage that Welsh farming will be "absolutely protected" for its markets in the EU.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Middle East War Highlights Strategic Importance of Strong UK–Ireland Cooperation
Weak Growth Signals UK Economy Was Faltering Even Before Middle East Energy Shock
Marks & Spencer Tops UK Fashion Retail Rankings as Most Considered Brand
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Royal Navy to Acquire Twenty Uncrewed Surface Vessels for Autonomous Warfare Testing
Russia Summons British and French Envoys After Ukrainian Storm Shadow Strike on Strategic Facility
Starmer Confirms Britain Will Maintain Sanctions on Russia Despite U.S. Policy Shift
UK Moves to Refine AI Definition in Investment Security Reform
UK Economy Stalls in January as Growth Unexpectedly Falls to Zero
Asian Energy Security Tested as Strait of Hormuz Disruption Threatens Oil Supplies
Iran Sets Three Conditions for Ending Regional War as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
Tesla Secures Approval to Supply Electricity Directly to Homes Across Britain
Prince William Delivers Tribute to Australia’s Naval Alliance Amid Renewed Royal Spotlight on the Country
UK Foreign Secretary Travels to Saudi Arabia to Reinforce Support for Regional Allies
Putin’s ‘Hidden Hand’ May Be Assisting Iran in Conflict With Trump, UK Defence Secretary Warns
UK Sets April Deadline for Tech Platforms to Strengthen Online Protections for Children
Elon Musk Moves Into Britain’s Energy Market as Tesla Wins Licence to Supply Power
UK Watchdog Warns Fuel Retailers Against Profiteering Amid Iran War Price Surge
Report Claims Iran Used UK Charity Network to Expand Influence
United States and United Kingdom Establish Joint Standards for Counter-Drone Technology
Iran May Be Laying Naval Mines in Strait of Hormuz, UK Warns Amid Escalating Gulf Tensions
US Deploys Bunker-Buster Bombs to UK Airbase as Iran Conflict Intensifies
British Troops in Iraq Intercept Iranian Drones Targeting Coalition Base
Release of Mandelson Files Raises Tensions as UK Seeks Stable Relations With Donald Trump
UK Documents Reveal Starmer Was Warned About Mandelson’s Epstein Links Before Ambassador Appointment
Nearly Five Hundred UK Mortgage Deals Withdrawn in Two Days as Market Volatility Forces Lenders to Reprice
Three Cargo Ships Hit Near Iran as Attacks Spread to Strategic Strait of Hormuz
Why British Police Repeatedly Declined to Investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s UK Links
UK Parliament Ends Hereditary Seats in House of Lords, Closing Chapter on Centuries of Aristocratic Lawmaking
EU and UK Urge Israel to Act Against Rising West Bank Settler Violence Amid Regional Tensions
US Senator John Kennedy Says Keir Starmer Should Not Be Trusted for Military Advice Amid Iran War Debate
UK High Court Rejects Attempt to Revive Terrorism Charge Against Kneecap Rapper
Revolut Secures Full UK Banking Licence After Multi-Year Regulatory Wait
Kentucky’s Bench Boost Powers Wildcats Past LSU in SEC Tournament Opener
British Couple Die After Being Pulled From Water at Australian Beach During Family Visit
Global Energy Agency Announces Record Release of 400 Million Barrels to Stabilize Oil Markets Amid Hormuz Disruption
British Airways Suspends UK Repatriation Flights as Middle East Travel Disruption Deepens
US Forces Prepare Ordnance at RAF Fairford as Strategic Bombers Deploy for Middle East Operations
Nigel Farage Faces Criticism After Saying Britain Should Stay Out of Iran War
Landmark UK Trial Begins Over Sony’s PlayStation Store Pricing
UK High Court Rejects Bid to Challenge Britain’s Chagos Islands Agreement With Mauritius
Finnish Duo Triumphs in England’s Annual Wife-Carrying Race, Winning a Barrel of Ale
How U.S. and UK National Security Strategies Are Reshaping the Global Business Landscape
Green Party Gains Momentum as Labour Shifts Toward the Political Centre
Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Dragon Sets Sail for Eastern Mediterranean as Regional Tensions Rise
UK Homebuilder Persimmon Warns Iran Conflict Could Dent Property Buyer Confidence
Roman Abramovich Signals Legal Fight if UK Seeks to Seize Chelsea Sale Funds
×