LONDON, ENGLAND — To reduce tariffs as a result of Brexit, British flour suppliers are considering importing and milling E.U. wheat and selling the flour into Ireland, the Irish Times reported.
The plan is just one being considered in the event of a “disorderly” U.K. withdrawal from the E.U., said the National Association of British and Irish Flour Millers (nabim).
A majority of the bulk flour used in Ireland comes from two mills in Northern Ireland or other mills in Britain. About 4,000 tonnes of flour is imported every week. If the U.K. left the E.U. without a deal, tariffs on that flour would amount to €172 per tonne, or the equivalent of 15¢ per loaf of bread.
If U.K. mills sourced and milled E.U. wheat and exported the flour to Ireland, it would reduce the tariff impact by two-thirds, nabim officials said.
Ireland needs too much flour each week that stockpiling it isn’t practical, the newspaper reported. Only a few weeks’ worth can be stored at one time.