UK's new agriculture minister voted against Brexit

Robert Goodwill was sworn in as the new British Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Agriculture on Wednesday 6 March. It is striking that the new minister voted against in the referendum on Brexit in 2016. He calls himself a 'Eurosceptic', but thinks it's better to stay in the European Union (EU).

Goodwill was appointed as the new Minister of the Environment, Food and Agriculture on Wednesday 6 March. He will take over from George Eustice, who resigned in February over the policies of British Prime Minister Theresa May. Goodwill was previously Minister of Immigration. 

Importance of a deal
Minette Batters, the president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), immediately says that she is talking about avoiding a 'no-deal Brexit'. "I want to talk to the minister about the problems farmers are experiencing; Brexit in particular is a subject that causes a lot of uncertainty. It is therefore essential that we reach a deal with the EU."

The British agricultural sector is under great pressure due to Brexit. If no deal is reached, products must be traded under World Trade Organization rules. This results in hefty import duties.

Tim Roetman

Tim Roetman has been working as a junior editor at livestock farming since November 2018 Boerenbusiness† He mainly writes about (price) developments in the pig and dairy market.

t.roetman@boerenbusiness. Nl

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