An SNP minister has complained that Downing Street has still to brief devolved government on the contents of the Australian free trade bill hours after issuing the details in a press release.
Ivan McKee, the Scottish Trade Minister, signalled he was being kept out of the loop as Boris Johnson hailed the UK’s first post-Brexit trade deal.
McKee was due to be briefed by the UK government on the package, which Scottish and Welsh devolved governments fear would have a disastrous effect on hill farmers in their nations.
Watching the extensive media coverage on Tuesday, McKee tweeted: “ Very interested to read so much well-informed coverage of the Australia FTA – I was due to be briefed by the UK Gov along with Ministers from Wales and NI this morning, but our call has been put back until much later because we were told “not enough of the deal is nailed down”.
Department of Trade officials said that the deal was being discussed in outline with a “range of stakeholders”
It is understood the wording of the deal was still being settled in an indication that the announcement had been rushed to coincide with the meeting between Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday morning.
Ian Blackford, the SNP Westminster leader, wasted no time in making comparisons with the lack of consultation over the Brexit deal.
He said: “This is completely unacceptable. Yet again, Scotland is being kept in the dark and not consulted on a deal that could have serious and damaging consequences for our economy.
“The Tories are throwing Scottish farmers under the Brexit bus, just as they sold out our fishing industry.”
The SNP has issued dire warnings about the effect of a tariff-free deal on the Scottish farming industry with predictions that many small farms would be wiped out by the import of cheaper meat from Australia.
But Tory Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, has praised the Australian trade deal as welcome news for Scotland.
He said: “Australia is the world’s eighth largest market for Scotch whisky exports, worth £113 million last year. The removal of tariffs presents a fantastic opportunity for our iconic distilleries.”
The five per cent tariffs on Scotch whisky exports to Australia will be removed as part of a new post-Brexit trade deal.
Scotland’s whisky exports to Australia have doubled in the last ten years, with around £126 million worth of spirits shipped in the last year alone.
However, Scottish farmers are concerned the deal could result in small family farms being unable to compete with a flood of cheap food imports from Australian mega-corporations.
Jack said: “Measures to protect the UK’s agriculture industry and maintain high standards will also help Scottish farmers make the most of international opportunities opened up by this deal.”
