The Government has been accused of “perpetuating a fraud on
British farming communities” after it emerged that the new Trade
and Agriculture Commission will not be asked to assess the impact
of new trade deals on the UK farming industry, despite repeated
commitments by Ministers that it would.
On 1st November last
year, the Government officially announced the role of the new
statutory Trade and Agriculture Commission as follows:
“It will produce a report on the impact on animal welfare and
agriculture of each free trade deal the Government signs after
the end of the EU transition period on January 1. The move – part
of the Government’s ambition to place farmers at the heart of its
trade policy – will allow Parliamentarians access to independent
and expert advice when reviewing the impact of each trade deal on
farming.”
Subsequent statements by DEFRA Secretary , Trade Secretary , and other
ministers all asserted that the role of the TAC would be to give
a voice to British farmers when new trade deals signed by the
Government are being scrutinised.
But in a statement on the Department for
International Trade’s website today, inviting expressions of
interest from potential members of the Commission, Trade
Secretary has said:
“The TAC’s role is specific and focused: it will look at the
text of an FTA to see if the measures relating to trade in
agricultural products have any implications for maintaining our
domestic statutory protections - specifically those relating to
animal and plant health, animal welfare and the environment -
across the UK. The TAC will provide advice to me on this, which
will be laid before Parliament.”
, Labour’s Shadow International Trade
Secretary, said in response:
“Last Autumn, MPs had the chance to pass Labour’s amendments to
the Trade and Agriculture Bills banning imports of agricultural
products that did not meet the UK’s standards on food safety,
animal welfare and environmental protection, and would undermine
the competitiveness of British farmers.
“The Government persuaded their backbenchers not to back those
amendments on the basis of a promise that the Trade and
Agriculture Commission would do the job instead, and be given the
authority to tell Parliament if any future trade deals would be
damaging for British farmers.
“But now the truth is clear. The Government has misled its own
MPs and perpetuated a fraud on Britain’s farming communities. A
hugely damaging deal is about to be struck with Australia, and
the Commission which was supposed to act as the voice of British
farmers will have nothing at all to say.”
Ends
Notes for editors
Below are further quotes from Ministers on the role of the TAC:
Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs,
, November 1st: “By
putting the TAC on a statutory footing, we are ensuring
that the voices of our farmers, as well as those of consumers and
key environmental and animal welfare groups, continue to be heard
while we are in the process of scrutinising future trade
deals.”
International Trade Secretary , 1st
November: “I am extending the TAC and putting it on a
statutory footing to give farmers a stronger voice in
British trade”.
, 6th November, to the
NFU Conference in Wales: “We have no intention of ever
striking a deal that doesn’t benefit farmers, but we have
provided checks and balances in the form of the Trade and
Agriculture Commission. That is an important reassurance
as every deal is different.”.
Lord Gardiner, 9th November, debate
on the Agriculture Bill: “The Government will keep working
hard to support our farmers as we pursue new trade opportunities.
Indeed, this is the core task of the Trade and
Agriculture Commission that will be put on a statutory
footing.”
, 25th November, to the
House of Commons: “We will shortly be introducing an
amendment to the Trade Bill, which will write the role of our
vital Trade and Agriculture Commission into law, again
giving independent advice to Parliament on trade and
agriculture.”
Minister of State for Trade Policy, , 26th November:
“The TAC will ensure that public and industry
interests are protected in Britain’s agriculture trade
policy.”
Lord Grimstone, 7th December,
presenting the amendments to the Trade Bill putting the TAC on a
statutory footing: ”I believe that these amendments will help
the UK safeguard our current standards of agricultural products,
put British farming at the heart of our trade policy and
ensure that our agricultural sector is among the most competitive
and innovative in the world.”
, 15th April, in
response to Emily Thornberry’s question asking her when the TAC
would be established and if there would be any reduction
in tariffs on imports from Australia and New Zealand that do not
meet UK standards: “Part of the Trade Bill was the
establishment of the statutory Trade and Agriculture Commission.
For every free trade agreement, it will produce a report
on precisely the issues that the right hon. Lady
outlines.”
