Lamb industry should not be nervous about New Zealand, Ardern says
- Published
Jacinda Ardern (R) met Theresa May (L) in Downing Street on Monday
The Welsh lamb industry should not be "nervous" about New Zealand products gaining greater access to the UK market, according the country's prime minister.
Jacinda Ardern said that a future free trade deal between the UK and NZ would be of "benefit" to British consumers.
She was speaking ahead of a meeting with Theresa May.
The Welsh Government has warned that an influx of New Zealand lamb would "destroy the Welsh lamb industry".
Meanwhile prime minister Theresa May has said she has met Welsh farmers in favour of a no-deal Brexit - despite farming unions in Wales warning of the consequences if the UK crashes out.
Mrs May has already spoken of the potential of a new trading agreement between both countries.
The Farmers' Union of Wales has also warned of the possibility of Welsh lamb could be priced off the shelves by New Zealand lamb.
As part of the European Union, the UK is unable to strike its own international free trade deals.
There have been concerns a New Zealand trade deal could damage the Welsh lamb industry
Theresa May has repeatedly stated that the ability to reach trade agreements with countries around the world after the UK leaves the EU is one of her main Brexit goals.
Speaking to the BBC on Monday, Jacinda Ardern said: "Obviously, as an important trading partner for us, at the point that that UK is ready to do so we're very keen to enter into a free trade agreement."
'Theresa May is a woman of remarkable resilience'
Ms Ardern, asked about New Zealand food products, such as lamb, being sold in the UK after Brexit, said: "Our goal is to make markets more accessible for New Zealand products by removing the barriers.
"I don't think the domestic market and the producers of food in the UK need to be nervous about greater access for New Zealand products because, for instance, seasonally we're complimentary and so there's a nice synergy there - when you're in winter, we're in summer.
"So, there's benefits between our markets having greater access to one another," she added.
New Zealand exports around 80% of its lamb production every year and it is the biggest exporter of lamb into the UK market, external.
Theresa May said she had met Welsh farmers in favour of a no deal
In her speech on Monday the prime minister Theresa May was challenged about a no deal Brexit's impact on farming by Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts.
"When she humours the idea of a no deal Brexit, she freezes the heart's blood of our communities," she said.
But Mrs May said: "I was pleased to meet, after we had negotiated the deal with the EU, with welsh farmers and they were supporting a no deal - they believed it would be a good deal for Welsh farmers."
The Farmers Union of Wales warned the prime minister last summer that rural Wales would "break down" without a Brexit deal with the EU.
NFU Cymru, along with other farming unions, backed a letter warning that a no-deal Brexit could threaten "safety, choice and affordability" of food.
- Published6 June 2018
