The argument that leaving the Customs Union will lead to a reduction in the UK’s food prices seems to originate in a Policy Exchange think tank paper. But the “evidence” for this is a list of EU WTO tariffs on agricultural products. policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/upl…
Here’s where the UK imports fruit from, the EU (and that includes us) has tariff-negating trade deals with pretty much all these countries (except Brazil).
And are our food prices more expensive than comparable countries round the world? Not if you look at meat. UK ranks well both on price and affordability, despite not being a major producer. This is ranked on price of chicken breast.
"Last year, for example, it was well-documented how Spanish orange producers successfully lobbied for an increase in orange tariffs."
I think you mean inaccurately-documented. By yourselves.
The EU didn’t increase tariffs fivefold because of Spanish MEPs protests, quite the opposite in fact.
16% is longstanding seasonal winter tariff, 3.2% rest of year for third countries. IEA incorrectly claimed this jump was “new”. But all ACP countries except South Africa had 0% anyway, as LDCs.