Unión de Uniones highlights a 5% drop in exports to the UK, which will be exacerbated by the mandatory nature of phytosanitary export certificates

The Confederation of Farmers and Livestock Breeders has analyzed the flow of agri-food exports to the UK so far this year and denounced the sharp declines in the export of some products compared to the same months in 2020 (data available for January and February).

The Confederation of Trade Unions, after certifying the UK’s exit from the European Union, has analyzed the latest available data from DataComex and warns of a 4.9% drop in exports since January, which particularly affects exports of meat products (-33%), fats and oils (-30%). %) And food preparations (-22%). By product, the declines in exports of products such as pork (-61%) or olive oil (-35%) are very noticeable.

The organization stresses that the current uncertainties surrounding trade with the Anglo-Saxon state, especially with regard to sanitary and phytosanitary controls at the borders, could cause a further decline in exports.

There is a particular concern in the sector regarding the need to obtain healthy and vegan export certificates for products such as meat, milk or vegetables, which are required as of April 1 and whose bureaucracy could further slow down the pace of export, and if maintained over time it could have Strong influence on the government agri-food sector.

Unión de Uniones states that the United Kingdom is one of Spain’s main trading partners at the level of agri-food, accounting for 8% of total Spanish exports and ranks fifth in the country’s export ranking at the level of the European Union with a total of 4000 million euros and a positive balance of 2920 million according to the latest official data. From the ministry.

The European production model and the principle of reciprocity must be defended

In the opinion of the Confederation of Unions, the diplomatic community of the state should work to recreate and strengthen these trade flows, and to encourage the purchase of Spanish products by British citizens and companies. “It depends to a large extent on whether we preserve the commercial potential that Spain’s food exports represent at the European level,” it indicates from the organization.

The EU’s approval of a trade agreement with London could provide the bloc with tools to defend its interests ahead of potential UK breaches of the agreed terms for Brexit. The organization hopes that the European authorities will benefit from these tools in the event that trade relations are obstructed or distorted by the British side.

Added to this decrease in exports to the British state is the harmful effects that other trade issues have had, such as the Airbus-Boeing dispute with the United States, the Russian veto or the European Union agreement with Vietnam, on the state’s agricultural food balance, which could soon be added by the European Union agreement. And skewed Mercosur, also known as the “Cars for Cows” agreement.

In this sense, and now that the European Union has presented its new trade strategy for the coming years, the organization demands to defend the European production model by applying the principle of reciprocity in phytosanitary matters and working conditions when signing agreements. With a third review of these chapters in detail and not to sign treaties that violate these terms and entail unfair competition for European producers.