Important new policy brief outlines how UK and EU can reset their trading relationship
Former European Commission senior negotiator Ignacio Garcia-Bercero has today published a paper outlining a possible trade policy framework for the EU/UK reset. Of particular interest to the meat industry are his thoughts on how negotiation on a veterinary agreement might play out.
Politically, the UK must weigh the agreement against other trade priorities. Alignment with EU standards might provoke objections from partners like the US and Canada, complicating future trade deals. Nevertheless, maintaining EU-aligned food safety regulations may be more acceptable to UK public opinion and economically beneficial than concessions to non-EU partners. Overall, a veterinary agreement offers substantial mutual benefits but necessitates navigating sensitive trade-offs and institutional commitments on both sides.
As we've argued previously, aligning regulatory standards on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures would minimise border controls, improving trade flows, particularly for perishable goods. It could also ease tensions within the UK by reducing barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the country, helping to stabilise the implementation of the Windsor Framework. A model resembling the EU-Switzerland agreement appears most promising, as the less comprehensive New Zealand model would do little to eliminate controls, making it economically unattractive for the EU.
However, such an agreement requires regulatory alignment, including adherence to EU secondary legislation and decisions on third-country imports, potentially curbing the UK's regulatory independence. The role of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) in resolving disputes is also likely to be contentious, as the EU is expected to insist on its oversight in matters of EU law interpretation. While this is already in place for Northern Ireland, extending it across the UK could raise sovereignty concerns, even though it would ensure consistency in regulatory alignment.