Brexit news: Food trade arrangements ‘unmitigated disaster’, as EU ‘committed’ to making NI deal work

Brexit has been called an "unmitigated disaster" for the food industry, as experts told MPs about the impact of new trade arrangements.

Sector leaders also told the International Trade Select Committee the cost of disruption had caused some firms to shut for good.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called on the UK and EU to de-escalate tensions over Northern Ireland ahead of Michael Gove’s meeting with the European Commission's Maros Sefcovic.

Sir Keir told reporters on Thursday that the EU had "made a mistake" by threatening to trigger Article 16 but warned calm is needed to restore the relationship.

"We need that meeting to work because families and businesses in Northern Ireland are suffering under the current arrangements," he said.

It came as a survey showed that half of British exporters to the EU were reporting difficulties with Brexit red tape and border disruption one month on from the end of the transition period.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said companies cited concerns about increased administration, costs, delays, and confusion about which rules to follow when asked how they were coping with the new system.

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