British farmers are driving tractors to the vicinity of the UK Parliament, voicing their concerns over post-Brexit trade agreements. These deals, they argue, have led to an influx of inferior-quality food imports due to lenient regulations in partner countries, thereby undermining local agricultural produce by offering cheaper alternatives.
The agricultural sector, already grappling with escalating costs and a scarcity of seasonal labor, exacerbated by the cessation of the EU's free movement and agricultural policies, finds itself at a disadvantage. The delay in implementing import checks, initially scheduled post-Brexit, further compounds the threat to biosecurity, according to the farming community.
Despite initial support for Brexit among many farmers, driven by opposition to the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, the reality of trade deals with nations like Australia and New Zealand has raised alarms over the sustainability of domestic farming. Additionally, the practice of mislabeling imports with the Union Jack has come under fire for misleading consumers.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's assurances of prioritizing the nation's food security have yet to quell the unrest among farmers, who demand a reevaluation of current trade policies to safeguard British agriculture. The protest saw approximately 100 tractors bearing pro-farming slogans converge on Westminster, signaling a growing discontent with the government's agricultural trade strategy.
Source: voanews.com
Photo source: Youtube.com