The UK Parliament voted a resounding rejection of Theresa May’s proposed Brexit plan. With a vote of 432 to 202, it was the biggest defeat suffered by a government in modern British political history.

Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn triggered a no-confidence vote in May’s government on January 16, 2019. While the no confidence motion was defeated by 325 votes to 306, there is still no clear indication of what further Brexit plans May might propose. If nothing changes, Britain will leave the European Union (EU) in ten weeks, on March 29^th with no deal in place.

FoodDrinkEurope, the European trade body, issued a statement warning of significant Food industry trade disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Cautioning that the UK leaving the bloc without a trade deal needs to be “avoided at all costs”.

“The EU agri-food chain would like to point to the dramatic economic consequences of a no-deal Brexit for EU and UK farmers, food and drink producers, traders in agri-food commodities as well as consumers,” it said.

The statement advised that “burdensome and unavoidable procedures”, such as official controls of goods, sanitary and phyto-sanitary inspections, veterinary certificates and import tariffs would lead to increased delays for checks at borders and raise the costs for both sides.

“It is important that during this period, the UK would continue to abide by existing EU regulations governing food production and to honor its existing commitments,” the statement read.

According to a report by the Conversation, consumption of foods vital to good health would be most affected by increased trade costs. With consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, dairy and meat all expected to decrease as a result.

“Given the UK’s import dependence, in particular for fruit and vegetables, any Brexit-related increase in trade costs will make it harder to get hold of foods that are critical components of healthy diets and chronic-disease prevention,” Conversation reports.

The UK Farming Roundtable, which consists of organisations representing farmers from all agricultural sectors across the UK, warned that EU legislation could result in a trade embargo on the export of UK animal-based products to the EU as a result of a “no deal” scenario.

“These products can only be imported by the EU from approved countries, and it could take months for such status to be granted to the UK,” the statement reads. “The lamb industry would be particularly impacted. In 2017, 31 percent of domestic sheep meat production, the equivalent of 4.5million sheep, was exported and 94 percent was destined for the EU.”

If a plan is passed prior to the Brexit date, analysing its potential implications is challenging. Proposals range from various forms of “soft Brexit” that include a new trade agreement with the EU, to a “hard Brexit” in which the UK falls back on tariffs set out by the World Trade Organization.

Either way, its certain that the implications of Brexit will ripple around the globe. Not only is the UK the fifth biggest national economy in the world, it is also America’s fourth-largest export market.

The withdrawal is also expected to diminish business growth for companies that operate in Europe. With many corporations utilizing the EU as a gateway to free trade throughout Europe.

US businesses are the most significant investors in the UK, investing nearly $600 billion and employing more than a million people, according to a survey by The Transatlantic Economy 2017.  In order to protect against a potential hard Brexit or no deal, many companies have already opened subsidiaries elsewhere in Europe.

For many, Brexit is seen as a massive backlash against globalization. It’s possible that the UK’s withdrawal is just the beginning, with other EU countries now more likely to consider heading for the door.