BREXIT AGREEMENT REACHED; UK PARLIAMENT SCHEDULES RARE SATURDAY VOTE
An agreement has been reached between the United Kingdom and the European Union on a new Brexit withdrawal agreement, it was announced Thursday. Under the agreement, Britain would leave the EU on Oct. 31. The agreement needs the approval of Parliament, which has scheduled a vote for Saturday. If the Brexit agreement is rejected by Parliament, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson may seek approval to leave the EU without a deal on Oct. 31.The Irish Democratic Unionist Party, which has concerns over what power Northern Ireland will have to periodically review the tariff deal, has said it will oppose the deal, joining the Labour Party, the Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democrats. If a vote on the deal is rejected and Johnson doesn’t receive approval for a “no deal” exit, he is required to write a letter to the EU, requesting more time, delaying Brexit until Jan. 31, 2020. In October 2018, the Trump administration announced its intention to negotiate a trade agreement with the U.K. NPPC is supportive of negotiations, provided the agreement eliminates tariff and non-tariff trade barriers on pork.
NPPC is the global voice for the U.S. pork industry, protecting the livelihoods of America’s 60,000 pork producers, who abide by ethical principles in caring for their animals, in protecting the environment and public health and in providing safe, wholesome, nutritious pork products to consumers worldwide. For more information, visit www.nppc.org.
