Plaid Cymru politicians have expressed significant concerns regarding the impact the new trade deal stuck between the UK and New Zealand will have on Pembrokeshire farmers.

The free trade agreement between New Zealand and the UK Government was signed on February 28 and is set to open the doors to a significant import of meat produce which could potentially hit the farming sector in Wales harder than in any other part of the UK.

NFU Cymru has recently raised concerns about the deal, stating that the potential negative cumulative impact of this cannot be overstated.

The New Zealand trade deal follows another similar deal with Australia, and while it offers significant upsides for farmers on the other side of the world, it potentially creates significant marketplace changes for Welsh farming.

Figures from the Farmers Union of Wales state the agreement could see the amount of beef that can be imported tariff-free from New Zealand rise immediately to 12,000 then gradually to 38,820 tonnes in ten years’ time.

Further rises would occur in the subsequent five years, after which there would be no limit.

A similar increase would also be seen in lamb, with the amount that could be imported tariff-free would increase by 35,000 tonnes per annum in years one to four, then by 50,000 tonnes per annum in years five to fifteen, after which there would be no limit.

Plaid Cymru’s Agriculture Spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, has raised the issue as a matter of urgency with the Welsh Government in the Senedd.

He said: “While the spin will be about benefits, the truth is that this trade deal is a real cause for concern for Welsh farmers.

“The agreement will provide a 15 year transitional period, and it states that they will only be able to ‘utilise new access to the UK sheep meat market once they have filled 90 per cent of their existing World Trade Organization (WTO) quota’.

“However, this leaves Welsh farmers at the whim of a market whereby they have no control nor input. Should something change in the sheep meat market then New Zealand meat would suddenly end up here or in the EU and undermine Welsh farmers.

“By failing to ensure that there are tariffs on imports here the UK Government have left Welsh farmers completely open to the whims of a market which they have no say and no protection.

Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for Mid and West Wales added: “Let us be clear, this trade deal is a gross betrayal of Pembrokeshire farmers.

“The UK Government’s own analysis suggests that the number of people working in agriculture will be negatively impacted by this deal, whilst it also threatens to undermine the entire Welsh agriculture sector – which we know is far more susceptible to harm from a poor trade deal than other farmers in other parts of the UK.

“As we face a climate emergency, importing more food from the other side of the world that could be produced sustainably here in Wales, does not make any sense whatsoever.

“Clearly, efforts must now be taken at Westminster to ensure that the Welsh farming sector is safeguarded from the potential negative impact of this agreement.”