Abstract/Summary

Brexit negotiations were triggered in March 2017 when the UK notified its intention to leave the EU. A year later, a draft Withdrawal Agreement was produced. It is hoped that this will result in a legally binding agreement when the European Council meets in autumn 2018, but this is not guaranteed. The draft provides for a transitional period, extending from March 2019 – when the UK will formally leave the EU – to the end of 2020, during which time EU law and policies – including the common agricultural policy – will continue to apply. The UK–EU‐27 trade arrangements that will apply from 1 January 2021 are yet to be determined. Both the UK and EU‐27 insist they are determined to keep the Irish border open, but how this outcome can be reconciled with the UK's stated ambition of forging new trade links around the world, is yet to be determined. Regulatory provisions, relating to food safety and animal and plant health for example, together with the high tariffs on many agri‐food products, put the agriculture and food sectors at the core of this debate. Direct payments will be phased out in England, but the scope for policy divergence between the various nations of the UK is uncertain.