THE Tory Government have been forced to retract their claim that their Brexit agreement will lead to cheaper soy sauce.
The Department for International Trade (DIT) twitter account posted that the ingredient “will be made cheaper thanks to our trade deal with Japan” during Tuesday night’s broadcast of The Great British Bake Off, where it was Japanese week.
The bakers used a lot of soya sauce in the first challenge on #GBBO, so it's a good thing it will be made cheaper thanks to our trade deal with Japan 🇯🇵
— Department for International Trade (@tradegovuk) October 27, 2020
But trade experts pointed out that the tariff on soy sauce from Japan is already 0% thanks to a free trade agreement between Tokyo and the EU.
Sam Lowe of Centre for European Reform, described the claim as “naughty”, while opposition politicians said the government’s trade claims were increasingly characterised by “exaggerations and mis-truths”.
We already have a zero-tariff deal with Japan via the EU, oh and the UK imports a lot of its soy(a) sauce through the Netherlands where, come 1 Jan, the likely lengthy delays and additional paperwork will probably *add* cost to the consumer. Otherwise great stuff, Liz! https://t.co/EPdnTduWZc
— Seb Dance 🌹🇪🇺 (@SebDance) October 27, 2020
David Henig, a trade expert, wrote: “Current tariff on soy sauce entering the UK from Japan – 0%. Tariff on soy sauce entering UK after UK-Japan trade deal – 0%. Not a good look when you can’t trust a government social media account to tell the truth.”
The popular Kikkoman brand is manufactured in the Netherlands and is currently imported to Britain free of any duty. This mean the product could get more expensive in the event of a No-Deal Brexit.
Other popular brands are made in Wales, as the Welsh MP Anna McMorrin pointed out along with hundreds of others.
And don’t forget a lot of UK soy sauce is made in South Wales 🏴 I’m not even sure @tradegovuk even knows that. 🤷🏼♀️ https://t.co/wCnXYZ515q
— Anna McMorrin MP 🏴🇪🇺😷🏳️🌈 (@AnnaMcMorrin) October 27, 2020
On 31 December EU trade deals will stop applying to the UK because of the end of the Brexit transition period.
Labour’s shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry said the soy sauce episode was and illustration of a “much bigger problem” with the government’s entire approach to trade.
“For four years, the DIT has been overpromising and underdelivering when it comes to our trade deals, then constantly trying to fill the gap with exaggerations and mistruths,” she said.
For four years, the DIT has been over-promising and under-delivering when it comes to our trade deals, then constantly trying to fill the gap with exaggerations and mis-truths. Last night’s ‘soya sauce’ fiasco from @tradegovuk was just an illustration of that much bigger problem.
— Emily Thornberry (@EmilyThornberry) October 28, 2020
The DIT later corrected the tweet, saying: "To clarify: thanks to the UK-Japan trade deal, soya sauce will be cheaper than it otherwise would be under WTO terms, on which we would be trading with Japan from 1 Jan if we had not secured the UK-Japan trade deal."
To clarify: thanks to the UK-Japan trade deal, soya sauce will be cheaper than it otherwise would be under WTO terms, on which we would be trading with Japan from 1 Jan if we had not secured the UK-Japan trade deal. https://t.co/zxRV0Pg0V0
— Department for International Trade (@tradegovuk) October 28, 2020
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel