Britain has to compromise on trade in agriculture

If the UK really wants to avoid custom checks at the border, then they will have to be ready to compromise on their post-Brexit trade ambitions with third countries in the area of agricultural and food products.

Last week the UK published two Brexit negotiation positions – one on the future customs arrangements and the other on the relationship between Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is very difficult to see how these two positions can be reconciled when it comes to their ambitions on agricultural trade and customs arrangements.

The UK is, on the one hand, insisting they wish to leave the customs union and pursue an independent trade policy. On the other, they say they want to avoid a border to the movement of goods between the EU and the UK for any purpose including customs or agri-food checks.