Shoppers could face shortages of several major food and drink items this winter thanks to farmer protests. France is one of the biggest exporters of goods to the UK, and even after Brexit , the majority of food and drink imported by the UK comes from the EU. But this week, farmers in France have begun to organise protests following a deal signed by the EU with several South American countries known as the Mercosur trade bloc, comprising Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia - and it could have a knock on effect on Britain.
It comes as, separately, farmers take to the streets in the UK to protest against planned changes to Inheritance Tax on family farms, a move which many farmers worry could put them under which could in theory also hit food supplies. Ministers are drawing up contingency plans to keep supermarket shelves stocked after landowners threatened a strike on food deliveries. French farmers are concerned that the deal for duty-free imports of beef, poultry and sugar could create unfair competition for their own French grown produce.
While there is nothing concrete to suggest food exports from France to the UK will be disrupted as yet, should protests spiral and farmers down tools, there are several categories of food and drink sent from over the Channel which could potentially be affected in the future. Shoppers could be worried that cheese, honey, fruit and vegetables including melons and nuts and seafood could be in shorter supply if farmer protests wors.
