Welsh exports to the EU in steep decline, Welsh Government report reveals

A report by the Welsh Government has revealed an alarming decline in Welsh exports to the EU.

Overall, the value of all Welsh exports has fallen by a shocking £827 million, when compared to figures for the previous 4 quarters. But figures for Welsh trade with the EU show a 13.4% decline in exports over the same period — just 12 months.

Responding to the report, which showed a fall of just 1.2% to other parts of the world, a spokesman for Vote Leave Cymru, Ross England, said:

“This report by the Welsh Government is deeply troubling and shows that Welsh exports to the EU are declining at an alarming rate.

“Whilst remain campaigners make fanciful claims about the benefits of Wales’ membership of the EU, here we see the facts laid bare.

“Welsh exports are down by a quarter in recent years, with exports to the EU — supposedly the land of milk and honey — down by a staggering 13.4% in one year. Compare that to a fall of just 1.2% in trade with the rest of the world, and the trend becomes clearer.

“The fact is, the EU is a shrinking market for Wales, and for UK as a whole, and after we Vote to Leave domestic businesses will be free to develop trade with countries around the world and arrest this alarming decline.”

The report also shows that the value of steel and iron exports has fallen by almost a quarter in the last month — but by a third since the Welsh Government took office in 2011.

Mr England added:

“We already know that our membership of the EU has damaged Wales’ steel industry, and that plans to give China market economy status would spell the end for steel across the continent, but this report also shows that the overall value of our steel and iron exports has tumbled dangerously.

“It’s clear that the EU is toothless to tackle the steel crisis. They started investigating the issue of Chinese steel dumping in 2008 and no progress has been made, with the consequences in terms of jobs there for all to see.”