Would a free trade deal with Australia bankrupt UK farmers? Business News

Whitehall’s battle over the UK’s putative free trade deal with Australia focused on the impact on UK farmers.

Farmers unions, with apparent backing from the Environment Department, lobbied against the deal, arguing it would lead to unfair competition for UK food producers. Minette Batters of the National Farmer Union argues that lifting import tariffs “would make life unbearable for small family farms in Britain”.

Scottish National Party politicians have also warned that the deal could devastate the affairs of Scottish crofters.