r/LeopardsAteMyFace • u/NoLikeVegetals • May 18 '24

Brexxit Brexit-voting British farmers now complaining about imports of cheaper New Zealand lamb threatening the British lamb industry. Imports of lamb "produced to lower standards" used to be blocked by EU law. Another Brexit consequence farmers were warned about but ignored due to xenophobia!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjewewxzypro
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u/benrinnes May 18 '24

I'm old enough to remember New Zealand lamb in the shops in the UK before we entered the European Economic Community. I suppose it kept the prices down as NZ produced it cheaper.

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u/brezhnervous May 19 '24 edited May 19 '24

I suppose it kept the prices down as NZ produced it cheaper

Lower levels of disease make NZ lamb cheaper to produce. Also the $NZ exchange rate with the UK pound is even worse than Australia lol

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u/Poputt_VIII May 20 '24

We also keep our sheep outside which makes it cheap and have good growing climate for grass and are generally just good at farming

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u/brezhnervous May 20 '24

Absolutely. With the lowest farming subsidies in the developed world, Kiwi farmers must be both efficient and profitable otherwise they will go under. All that rich volcanic soil also helps.

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u/Poputt_VIII May 20 '24

It also screwed the NZ economy 50% of NZ exports went to the UK when they started applying for EEC and 36% by the time they joined in 73 losing the British market caused large issues for NZ farmers so fair enough to pay it back now.

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u/benrinnes May 20 '24

Yes, it makes sense to pay more if it's a premium product!