Brexit Miniseries: Why even tea might become scarce after a Brexit
Great Britain imports most of its food. Fresh foods in particular could become scarce and pricey after a Brexit. Unless an agreement is reached, whole colonies of trucks carrying food might be held up at EU borders.
Brexit recipes are already making the rounds in the British media, with root vegetables, leeks and potatoes – everything that withstands the sometimes grim weather on the island and still manages to thrive. But it’s almost certain that no one will go hungry on the island after a Brexit.
Food arrives from continental Europe via seaports
However, avocados, tropical fruits, lettuce and even a cup of tea in the afternoon could become rarities for a while. Today, almost everything reaches the country from the continent via seaports. And its processing could be extended by additional procedures unless a specific agreement is reached.
And many Britons may find their wallets uncomfortably light, as the price of food could shoot up drastically. For example, there’s a risk that a customs markup of almost 50 percent will be applied to cheese from Switzerland or mozzarella, while the mark-up will be nearly 20 percent for fruit.
