Report from the Trade and Agriculture Commission

Statement

Last year, the Government established the independent Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) to place UK farming at the heart of our trade policy.

Today the Commission publishes its advisory report on trade and agriculture. The report makes recommendations covering:

• The strong action needed to maximise export promotion opportunities for the agri-food sector.
• The UK leadership required at the WTO to change international framework rules on trade and standards, to tackle global issues like climate change and environmental degradation.
• The UK promoting free and fair trade whilst maintaining high standards in areas such as animal welfare, ethical standards, and the environment.
• The UK being particularly supportive of developing countries to access the full benefits of the global trading system.
• Welcoming the statutory Trade and Agriculture Commission to help uphold effective scrutiny of trade deals.

In compiling this advisory report, the Commission sought evidence from trade and agriculture experts from across our four nations, including from local farmers, businesses, the National Farmers’ Unions and Parliamentarians.

I am grateful to all those who contributed evidence and expertise during this challenging time. I thank the chair, Tim Smith, and all Commission members for delivering this incisive advisory report and I look forward to carefully considering the recommendations and will respond in due course.

To continue the excellent work that the Commission has started, we are now putting the Commission onto a statutory footing and evolving its role to boost scrutiny of new free trade deals. We will seek to appoint new members in due course.

In addition, last week I launched our Open Doors campaign to help farmers and producers take advantage of the 64 trade deals we have done to date, to sell more around the world including fast-growing markets in the Americas and Asia Pacific.

A copy of the advisory report has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and has been published on GOV.UK