Farmers’ Union of Wales officials have discussed the importance of maintaining and establishing favourable export markets for Welsh red meat with DEFRA Minister Mark Spencer at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, stressing that good relations must be restored with our nearest neighbours.

Speaking after the meeting, FUW President Glyn Roberts said:

“We thank the Minister for speaking to us here at the Winter Fair and welcomed the opportunity to discuss the importance of favourable export markets and trade deals with him.

“The UK Government has been pursuing liberal trade deals that its own figures show will undermine UK food security. These deals have been shown to have negligible benefits for the UK’s economy whilst opening up UK markets to products that do not meet our own high standards. The UK Government needs to focus on trade policies that place UK food security and producers at the top of their agenda.”

The FUW also highlighted members' concerns that the UK Government’s Northern Ireland Protocol Bill would break International Law and threaten our relationship with crucial EU markets secured with the TCA.

“The UK Government should seek to have a much better working relationship with the EU in order to protect UK food exports and our food security and halt all unilateral actions in relation to the Northern Ireland Protocol,” added Mr Roberts.