Commenting on the official signing of the UK’s agreement to join
the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific
Partnership (CPTPP) Rural Affairs Secretary said:
“This trade partnership offers positive elements which will
provide new opportunities for Scottish exporters, such as the
tariff reductions for Scotch whisky in Malaysia.
“However, any gain from these opportunities cannot be secured at
the expense of other sectors of the Scottish agri-food
economy. The UK Government must not use our world class
products as bargaining chips and pit Scottish needs and interests
against each other in any agreement on market access.
“There are significant risks in particular for our sensitive
agricultural products - which have already been damaged by
bilateral deals with two of the larger economies in the CPTPP,
New Zealand and Australia.
“That’s why it is absolutely vital that preferential access to
the UK market must be contingent on producers meeting the same
high standards our domestic producers are required to meet. This
includes the use of pesticides, antibiotics and standards of
animal health and welfare.
“Increasing trade is positive when done in line with the
principles we set out in our Vision for Trade strategy. It
is only right that devolved interests are fully considered to
ensure that trade policy works for the whole of the UK.
“We will review the newly published documents, in line with our
trading principles and to ascertain the likely impacts on
Scotland. I will continue to urge UK Government to work more
closely with us in developing a more coherent trade strategy,
which, among other things, gives agriculture a higher priority.”
