International Trade Secretary has launched a new
strengthened Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC), as part of
the Government’s response to
the previous Commission’s recommendations.
Chaired by Lorand Bartels, Professor of International Law, the
new TAC will provide expert scrutiny of new trade deals once they
reach the signature stage, helping ensure world-leading British
agricultural standards are upheld.
The Government is also setting out more detail on measures being
introduced to support farmers, in response to recommendations in
the original TAC report. They include a new cohort of
international ‘agri-food attachés’ who will work around the world
to promote export opportunities for UK farmers and producers,
providing market intelligence and technical expertise.
There will also be a new Food and Drink Export Council to work in
collaboration with industry and governments in Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland to promote exports from all parts of the UK,
helping to level up the country.
The response reconfirms that maintaining the UK’s high standards
will be a red line in all our trade negotiations, with no
compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare
or food standards. Any deal we sign with other countries will
include protections for the agriculture industry, and we have a
range of tools to defend British farming against any unfair
trading practices.
International Trade Secretary said:
I’m delighted to welcome Professor Lorand Bartels as Chair of the
new Trade and Agriculture Commission. A trade lawyer and
academic, he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the
role and I look forward to working together.
I’m grateful to all the members of the original Trade and
Agriculture Commission for their thorough and wide-reaching
report. I want our farmers and food producers to be positive
about the export opportunities that exist and take advantage of
booming demand for British exports.
Trade and Agriculture Commission Chair Professor Lorand
Bartels said:
I am looking forward to getting started in the role and working
with my new colleagues, who bring a wide range of expertise from
different fields that will be of great benefit to the Commission.
The Commission has an important role to play in the scrutiny of
new Free Trade Agreements and it’s exciting to be involved as the
UK forges new trading relationships all around the world.
Environment Secretary said:
We welcome the contribution that the TAC report has made as we
consider future trade policy and the approach that we will take
to ensure that our high standards of food safety are maintained.
The new Commission will have a formal role to inform
Parliamentarians and the public about how new Free Trade
Agreements (FTAs) are consistent with UK laws on animal welfare,
animal and plant health, and the environment. Its members have
expertise across the agricultural, food production, veterinary,
animal welfare, environment and international trade policy
sectors, among others.
The TAC’s advice will inform a government report which will be
laid before Parliament ahead of the ratification of any new FTA
and following the signature stage.
Other commitments in the Government’s response to the original
TAC include going further than ever before to work with trading
partners on animal welfare and tackling antimicrobial resistance
(AMR) in our trade agreements, and using our influence in
multilateral organisations to push for improved environmental and
animal welfare standards in food production.
The Government’s response builds on the steps already taken to
deliver for UK farmers:
- Earlier this year, the highly successful Open Doors campaign
was launched to help the industry seize new opportunities through
trade agreements with priority markets
- Government is targeting opportunities in lucrative
high-growth markets where demand for British exports is growing,
including countries in the Comprehensive and Progressive
Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) which are projected to account
for 21% of global import demand for meat by 2030
- The UK recently secured better access to lucrative markets
such as Japan for UK poultry and Mexico for UK pork, and made
progress removing trade barriers which hold back our farmers,
such as the US ban on British beef
Further information
Members of the new Trade and Agriculture Commission:
- Robert Anderson
- Professor Lorand Bartels (Chair)
- Gracia Marin Duran
- Catherine McBride
- Jim Moseley
- Cedric Porter
- Meurig Raymond
- Kate Rowell
- Shanker Singham
- Sir Lockwood Smith
- Andrew Swift
- Nick Von Westenholz
