SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, urged the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government to protect and promote North Wales businesses who export to the United States of America.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance asked Huw Irranca- Davies, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, what he was doing to support the agri-food sector in North Wales.
Mr Rowlands said: “I’m glad you recognise the importance of the agri-food sector in North Wales. Of course, that does include the importance of export opportunities for food and drink producers in the region, and in particular in Wrexham, where there seems to be more international attention than ever because of the success of the football club in Wrexham.
“I want to focus on some particular opportunities there with exports to the United States, and some of the potential barriers that may be in the way in the future. I’d like to highlight companies like Jones’ Village Bakery, with their American-style pancakes, and Wrexham Lager, which is now sold in 29 states in the USA, from New York to California. It’s brilliant for those businesses, brilliant for employees in North Wales and good for Wales to see those brands in the United States.
“We are all aware of a new President in the White House in the USA and some of the rhetoric on display with regard to tariffs and potential trade wars in the future, and those trade barriers would be terrible for Welsh businesses as well, in particular those businesses I’ve highlighted there in Wrexham.
“What conversations are Welsh Government having with your counterparts in the British Government and the British embassy in Washington, to make sure that the voices of Welsh agri-food businesses are heard. And what measures are being taken to prevent the sector from being impacted by any potential tariffs in the future.”
The Cabinet Secretary said they will continue to engage with UK Government counterparts on the importance of hearing the voice of Wales, and Welsh primary producers and farmers, but also the whole Welsh food and drink sector.
