I HAVE no doubt that International Trade Minister, Graham Stuart MP, would have enjoyed his visit to Glenkinchie last week.

The new visitor centre’s a remarkable venue and it’s a tragedy it’s been unable to be fully utilised due to restrictions.

That’ll change soon but what won’t alter are the risks East Lothian and Scotland face from trade deals such as the one with Australia, which he was promoting on his trip.

Of course, a reduction in the current modest tariff on Scotch whisky will be a benefit.

But just how much is hard to say as it was already doing well, with Australia being the eighth biggest global market.

A slight reduction will have a limited impact on what’s already a premium product.

On the other hand, the damage to other sectors and, in particular, farming could be considerable.

It’s why the NFU and other trade bodies have spoken out.

Cheap imports of lamb, in particular, will be a threat to the sector here and, especially, in more northern areas.

The scale of farming’s far greater in Australia as well as methods being different, if not undesirable.

There are other factors that also cause concern.

ISDS (Investor State Dispute Settlement) must be opposed as much as the threat of cheap imports.

It’s a rather benign term for what can have grave consequences.

It’s a method by which big corporations can sue governments when they dislike legislation or actions.

It allows big business to undermine elected governments.

That’s not to say governments should be beyond reproach, but that isn’t the way.

Indeed, I’ll be writing to the Scottish Finance Secretary, as support announced for the taxi trade is entirely inadequate.

Many in the county ply for hire here or in Edinburgh.

Coronavirus has decimated the trade.

As restrictions begin to lift, having a trade in existence to supply the need that’ll be there is essential.

Much more must be done or we’ll all lose out.