British farmers warn trade deals could threaten livelihoods

Summary

Marketplace Morning Report: British Farmers Warn Trade Deals Could Threaten Livelihoods

Release Date: July 9, 2025
Host: Marketplace (Lianna Byrne)
Source: BBC World Service

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Introduction

In the latest episode of the Marketplace Morning Report, British farmers voiced significant concerns over recent trade agreements, fearing that these deals may jeopardize their livelihoods. Reporting live from the Great Yorkshire Show in North Yorkshire, Lianna Byrne delves into the multifaceted challenges facing the UK agricultural sector, highlighting issues related to trade, taxation, and innovative farming practices.

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Trade Agreements: Tariffs and Market Access

Lianna Byrne begins the report by setting the scene at the Great Yorkshire Show, highlighting its importance as England's largest agricultural exhibition, attracting around 140,000 attendees over four days. Amidst the excitement of sheep shearing competitions and dairy cow showcases, the underlying tension among farmers revolves around recent trade deals.

The UK government has recently negotiated tariff-free access for 13,000 tons of hormone-free US beef and agreed to permit 1.4 billion liters of American bioethanol annually. Additionally, British beef producers have gained access to the US market for the first time. While these agreements are touted as mutual benefits, they have sparked unease among local farmers.

Philip Parris, a farmer and cattle judge, expressed his concerns:
"It's going to have grave consequences because I think at the moment the general public have got great trust in the British farmers and the meat that's being produced. Once we start bringing in meat from abroad, not only just America, but it's coming through from South America as well that haven't got the same welfare standards, I think they could start and lose confidence in us."
(02:47)

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Impact on the Domestic Sector and Public Trust

The influx of foreign meat, especially from regions with differing animal welfare standards, poses a threat to the reputation and trustworthiness of British produce. Farmers fear that consumers may lose faith in locally sourced products, preferring imported alternatives that may not adhere to the same ethical guidelines.

Tom Bradshaw, head of the National Farmers Union (NFU), echoed these sentiments while discussing the delicate balance of trade negotiations:
"UK farming has nothing left to give to reduce these tariffs further. We shouldered the burden of responsibility to remove the tariffs for the car sector and we thought the steel sector within that first deal, we cannot be expected to give any more to further negotiate."
(03:20)

Bradshaw emphasized that the agricultural sector has already made significant concessions, granting access to bioethanol and beef markets, without reciprocal benefits from other sectors.

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Taxation Changes: Inheritance Tax on Farm Assets

Amidst trade tensions, another pressing issue looms large: changes to inheritance tax on farmland. Starting next year, the British government plans to revise the tax relief previously granted to farms passed down through generations. Under the new policy, any farm assets exceeding a £1.4 million threshold could be subject to a 20% inheritance tax.

John Black from Wakefield stated:
"I don't have enough money for it to be an issue for me, but I do see that it's an issue for farmers. There's not a farmer around here that's been in the job for years that I know that we'll be affected."
(04:36)

Conversely, another farmer highlighted the dire consequences:
"Everybody you talk to, there's quite a few just retiring early or selling up or doing other things that they shouldn't be doing to pass it on to the children before the inheritance tax comes in. Yeah, it's a crisis point for a lot of farmers. It really is."
(04:50)

Despite government assurances that most farms won't be affected and offering interest-free payment plans, Tom Bradshaw remains skeptical:
"We believe 70% of commercial farms are impacted by the proposed changes. These are real life humans that have been caught in the eye of a tax storm here, which is a retrospective tax which is going to end up ripping apart farms."
(05:22)

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Global Market Reactions

The uncertainties surrounding trade and taxation have reverberated across global markets. Following President Trump's warning that copper imports might face a 50% tariff, commodity prices surged, pushing U.S. copper to an all-time high. Conversely, London futures experienced a decline. Despite these fluctuations, stock markets showed resilience, with early Wednesday gains on the Foxy 100 and stability in Europe's Stoxx 600.

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Innovation in Farming: Embracing Social Media

Amidst challenges, some farmers are turning to innovative methods to sustain and grow their businesses. Cami Wilson, a Scottish sheep farmer at the Great Yorkshire Show, shared her unique approach to farming through social media. By creating The Sheep Game YouTube channel six years ago, Cami has garnered over 400,000 followers, providing a new revenue stream and increased visibility for her farming activities.

Reflecting on her journey, Cami said:
"I was born on an estate in Scotland. My father was a shepherd there. So all my early years all I really knew was sheep farming and sheep and just fell in love with it then."
(05:55)

She further elaborated on the financial challenges of entering farming today:
"Now it's nearly impossible. Like the costs have just got so high for someone to come into the industry, they need big money behind them. So the YouTube came about because someone said, look at this guy, Tom Pemberton, he's doing really well on YouTube and he's making a bit of money from it and doing well. I thought that could be a good route."
(06:08)

Through merchandise sales and a supportive online community, Cami has successfully expanded her farming enterprise:
"So a big part of our business now, and that sounds so like cliche maybe for the YouTube world, is merchandise. We sell hoodies and jumpers. But we have bought a farm off the back of selling merchandise."
(07:05)

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Conclusion

The British agricultural sector stands at a crossroads, grappling with the dual pressures of unfavorable trade agreements and impending tax reforms. While traditional farming faces existential threats, innovative approaches like those of Cami Wilson offer glimmers of hope. As farmers navigate these turbulent times, the collective resilience and adaptability of the UK’s farming community will be crucial in shaping the future of agriculture in Britain.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the Marketplace Morning Report episode aired on July 9, 2025, providing a comprehensive overview for listeners and those interested in the economic and agricultural landscape of the UK.

Transcript

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[Lianna Byrne]

British farmers tell us that trade deals could threaten their livelihoods. Live from the Great Yorkshire show in the north of England. This is the Marketplace Morning report from the BBC World Service. I'm Lianna Byrne. So this morning we are bringing you to Harrogate in North Yorkshire, to England's biggest agricultural show. It attracts about 140,000 people over four days. A little away from us, there's a sheep shearing competition. We're waiting for some Jersey cows to be brought out for competition now. And earlier I spoke to dairy farmer Jo Burrows who's prepping her Jersey cow to be judged.

[Jo Burrows]

There's a lot of behind the scenes pre prep at home before you even arrive at the show. And then when you get to the show, especially the dairy cows, because we're showing them in milk, you know, we have to be making sure that they're eating the right sort of food.

[Lianna Byrne]

They're quite beautiful. They have little doe eyes. They're brown.

[Jo Burrows]

Yeah, that's it. And they're one of the smaller dairy breeds. They're a small brownish cow, but the can come in lots of different types. They're very pretty.

[Lianna Byrne]

Oh, they're very pretty. They're gorgeous. Now, how is it in the dairy industry at the moment?

[Jo Burrows]

It is pretty hard. Farming in general is hard at the moment, but, you know, we just keep plodding on the best we can and just keep trying to do what we enjoy.

[Lianna Byrne]

So that was Joe, one of the 300,000 workers in the UK farming sector, which is worth nearly $26 billion. And farmers here are talking about two main things, trade and tax. The UK recently gave tariff free access to 13,000 tons of hormone free US beef and agreed to allow 1.4 billion litres of American bioethanol into the country annually. And British beef producers got access to the US market for the first time. But people are worried about the impact on the sector at home. Here's farmer and cattle judge Philip Parris.

[Philip Parris]

It's going to have grave consequences because I think at the moment the general public have got great trust in the British farmers and the meat that's being produced. Once we start bringing in meat from abroad, not only just America, but it's coming through from South America as well that haven't got the same welfare standards, I think they could start and lose confidence in us.

[Lianna Byrne]

Now with continued uncertainty about tariffs, Tom Bradshaw, that's the boss of the National Farmers Union, told me agriculture did not want to give more ground in trade negotiation.

[Tom Bradshaw]

UK farming has nothing left to give to reduce these tariffs further. We shouldered the burden of responsibility to remove the tariffs for the car sector and we thought the steel sector within that first deal, we cannot be expected to give any more to further negotiate.

[Lianna Byrne]

Away those tariffs, you would worry that they would use something in the agri sector as concession for another industry.

[Tom Bradshaw]

Well, that's what we've seen so far. I mean, we've given in on bioethanol and on beef access. Nothing else has given anything.

[Lianna Byrne]

Now in response, the UK government says it speaks with many sectors and will protect British farmers. Since the British view on tariffs, let's get some more global market reaction in the numbers. Commodity prices jumped after President Trump warned that copper imports could face 50% tariffs. That's pushed U.S. copper to an all time high and London futures dropped. And yet, in spite of all the uncertainty, stocks rose early Wednesday on the Foxy 100. And Europe's Stoxx 600 was right. Let's talk about tax now. From next year, the British government is changing a tax relief on farmlands passed down through generations. Previously, 100% of farm assets were exempt from inheritance tax. But now anything over a 1.4 million dollar threshold could be taxed at 20%. Here's what farmers told me.

[John Black]

John Black, I'm from Wakefield. I don't have enough money for it to be an issue for me, but I do see that it's an issue for farmers. There's not a farmer around here that's been in the job for years that I don'. Know that we'll be affected.

[Unnamed Farmer]

Everybody you talk to, there's quite a few just retiring early or selling up or doing other things that they shouldn't be doing to pass it on to the children before the inheritance tax comes in. Yeah, it's Crisis point for a lot of farmers. It really is.

[Lianna Byrne]

Now, the government insists it's fair. Most farms, they say, won't pay a penny and those that do can speak payments interest free over a decade. But Tom Bradshaw, head of the UK's National Farmers Union and a farmer himself, told me it's already shaking the industry.

[Tom Bradshaw]

We believe 70% of commercial farms are impacted by the proposed changes. These are real life humans that have been caught in the eye of a tax storm here, which is a retrospective tax which is going to end up ripping apart farms.

[Lianna Byrne]

Tom Bradshaw there now. One Scottish sheep farmer who's at the Great Yorkshire show is bringing in money in a whole new way. Cami Wilson created The Sheep Game YouTube channel six years ago and currently has more than 400,000 followers. He told me more about how he fell in love with farming and how social media has given him a way into the industry.

[Cami Wilson]

I was born on an estate in Scotland. My father was a shepherd there. So all my early years all I really knew was sheep farming and sheep and just fell in love with it then.

[Lianna Byrne]

Is it easy to get into this industry when you're a young person?

[Cami Wilson]

Because my father was a shepherd, I had no direct route in, so I went away from farming. I actually worked as a police officer for 12 years before into it and I was fortunate then. You know, land prices weren't where they are now and the cost of sheep isn't where it is now. Now it's nearly impossible. Like the costs have just got so high for someone to come into the industry, they need big money behind them. So the YouTube came about because someone said, look at this guy, Tom Pemberton, he's doing really well on YouTube and he's making a bit of money from it and doing well. I thought that could be a good route. I could just share people what I'm doing and that might be a route and to make an extra coin to get me into farming. Every kid wants to buy YouTuber these days and the reality is not everyone can be a YouTuber. Well, they can, but not everyone can make money from it. But we are so fortunate in farming. Like when I started the Sheep Game channel five, six years ago. Now nobody else is doing sheep outdoors in the UK. Now you go on YouTube to be the only person doing something that's near impossible these days. So that gave me a real leg up and an advantage.

[Lianna Byrne]

It's also opened other opportunities for you.

[Palo Alto Networks Advertisement]

Yeah.

[Cami Wilson]

So a big part of our business now, and that sounds so like cliche maybe for the YouTube world, is merchandise. We sell hoodies and jumpers. But we have bought a farm off the back of selling merchandise. And a big part of that is the farming community and the people that watch this getting behind us. And we are absolutely being carried on the shoulders of the people that come here and buy merch from us and let us have this dream life that we're living.

[Lianna Byrne]

Cami Wilson there, live from the Great Yorkshire show in the north of England. I'm Lianna Byrne with the Marketplace morning report from the BBC World Service.

[Rima Reyes]

Hey, everyone, I'm Rima Reyes and I'm excited to join Kimberly Adams on Make Me Smart. Together we'll unpack the day's news, whether it's a tariff switch up, the latest on Trump's immigration policy or the future of clean energy. Join us each weekday so we can make sense of it all together because none of us is as smart as all of us. Listen to Make Me Smart. Wherever you get your podcasts.