Agricultural stakeholders to give evidence on UK-New Zealand Agreement in Principle

The House of Lords International Agreements Committee will this Wednesday be questioning stakeholders from the farming and agriculture industries on the UK-New Zealand Agreement in Principle, which the Government announced on 20 October 2021. 

The committee will explore topics such as the opportunities and risks of the Agreement in Principle, the impacts on agricultural sectors in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, phase-in periods for zero tariffs, and the consequences of the agreement for the UK’s other negotiations.  

Giving evidence will be: 

• Beatrice Morrice, Political Affairs Manager, NFU Scotland  

• Dr Nick Fenwick, Head of Policy, Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW)  

• Huw Rhys Thomas, Political Adviser, NFU Cymru  

• Victor Chestnutt, President, Ulster Farmers’ Union  

• James Lowe, Chairman, Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers Association (NIAPA) 

Questions the committee is likely to ask include: 

• Broadly, what opportunities and risks does the Agreement in Principle with New Zealand offer the farmers and producers you represent? 

• Do the phase-in periods for zero tariffs, such as the 15-year phase-in period for lamb and 5-year phase in period for cheese, address your concerns? 

• What will be the likely consequences of the agreement for the UK’s other negotiations with big agricultural producers, for example with the US, Brazil and Argentina? 

• How would you rate the consultation process with Government throughout the negotiations and in the lead-up to the Agreement in Principle?  

• The Government has encouraged farmers across the UK to become more competitive and productive and to get its “food and drink to the top of the world’s menus”. What support would you like to see from the Government in helping you achieve those objectives?