SHOPPERS will pay the price if the UK Government does not secure a zero-tariff agreement with the EU, retailers have warned.
The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) said if no trade deal is in place, retailers will struggle to insulate consumers from the impact of £3 billion of new tariffs on food.
SRC director David Lonsdale said retailers want to see a lasting tariff-free and minimal-friction trade deal between the UK and the EU.
The Brexit transition period expires on December 31, at which point the UK will leave the bloc’s single market and customs union. Lonsdale said the UK Government must “strain every sinew” to agree a zero-tariff agreement.
He said: “Avoiding a No-Deal cliff edge ensures consumers continue to have the widest possible choice on shop shelves and helps retailers keep down prices.
“Securing a trade deal means Scottish shoppers aren’t hit with unwanted new costs, at a time when the economy is under enormous pressure and family finances are stretched due to the recession.
READ MORE: Tesco reveals it is stockpiling food supplies amid fears of No-Deal Brexit
“Without a trade deal there is little retailers can do to insulate consumers from the impact of £3bn of new tariffs on food in our supermarkets and grocery stores, as four-fifths of UK food imports come from the EU.
“New checks and red tape that will apply from January 1 will create additional headaches in the supply of many goods that come from or through the EU. The UK Government must strain every sinew to agree a zero-tariff agreement, or it will be Scottish shoppers who pay the price.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC that tariffs – which will be levied on imports from the EU if there is no free trade deal – play only a small part in the cost of food.
He added: “Of all the things that will be a challenge, I am not concerned about either supermarket cupboards running bare or the cost of food prices. There will be some bumps along the road if we don’t get a free trade deal, that’s the inevitable consequence of change.”
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 here