UK Government Warns of Economic Risks Amid EU Trade Talks
In a recent address, Cabinet Office Minister Thomas-Symonds cautioned that Reform UK’s proposal could lead to a £9 billion reduction in the economy, jeopardizing jobs and increasing food prices, reports 24brussels.
Thomas-Symonds will assert that reversing recent economic resets threatens investments in the food and drink industries, complicates exports for farmers, fishers, and small business owners, and may result in food spoilage due to long delays in transport, akin to 16-hour queues.
Labour officials consider swift advancements in EU trade vital for their strategy leading into the next general election. They aim for the British public to notice tangible benefits from new agreements, particularly through reduced supermarket prices in the campaign’s lead-up.
Central to this effort is the upcoming discussions on the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, which have garnered widespread support from the food, drink, and agricultural sectors. However, Euroskeptics express discontent over the prospect of deepening ties with Brussels.
Thomas-Symonds is anticipated to declare his intention for the SPS agreement to be operational by 2027, reaffirming Labour’s commitment to not rejoin the EU’s Customs Union or Single Market.
On Tuesday, the British government released new statistics highlighting the bureaucratic challenges faced by businesses and the possible advantages of an SPS agreement. The Animal Health and Plant Agency recorded 328,727 export health certificates issued in 2024, each costing up to £200.
A Reform UK representative responded, stating, “Cosying up to the EU and leaving us entangled in reams of retained EU law which Kemi Badenoch failed to scrap will not resuscitate Britain’s struggling economy.”
