UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement

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Why have Ministers failed to limit the tariff-free increase on beef imports from Australia to a reasonable percentage, as achieved by Japan and South Korea?

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What went wrong during negotiations that led to the absence of an explicit commitment to limiting global warming to 1.5°, as promised previously?

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When can we expect the Government’s report on the impact of the deal on statutory protections for agriculture?

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Why are monitoring reports promised approximately two years after the agreement comes into effect, with subsequent checks every two years instead of annually?

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What steps will the Government take to address concerns raised by devolved Administrations, particularly regarding formal involvement in ratification?

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Inquires about the failure to achieve similar import quotas as Japan and South Korea did in their deals with Australia, raising concerns about animal welfare standards not being upheld equally, questioning the absence of an explicit 1.5°C warming limit commitment despite previous assurances from COP26 president, pressing for immediate publication of Government’s report on statutory protections for agriculture, and criticising the delay in monitoring reports.

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Congratulates the Secretary of State for her achievement in signing this first ab initio trade deal as an independent nation and expresses hope for more deals, including one with Thailand. Requests specific timelines for publishing reports from the Trade and Agriculture Commission and Government’s section 42 report, and asks about CRaG process trigger and publication of negotiating positions.

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Welcomed progress on the UK-Australia trade deal, but criticised it for its lack of ambition on climate change. Mentioned that even in a best-case scenario based on government figures, GDP will only increase by 0.08% by 2035 while the Office for Budget Responsibility estimates a loss of 4%. Questioned the adequacy of consultation with farming and food sector interests.

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Welcomed the trade deal but asked for assurance on protection for British farming, particularly regarding welfare standards and competitiveness.

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Asked for an absolute guarantee that the agreement will not put at risk any future sanitary and phytosanitary agreements with the EU.

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Asked about services trade in the agreement, particularly business and professional services, and requested a commitment to work on strengthening service offers in future deals.

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Questioned the justification for a 1,000% increase in estimated GDP boost from the original economic impact assessment.

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Welcomed the agreement and asked about enhancing support for small family businesses to export.

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I welcome a trade deal with our allies, friends and family in Australia, especially for the motor industry. Along with AUKUS, I hope it will provide a renewed international democratic dynamic and closer working for more resilient supply chains in both goods and raw materials. I am concerned that Ministers may have been desperate to do any deal, rather than getting the best deal. If there are concerns about meat imports, will the Secretary of State press other Departments, the NHS and schools to prioritise local meat, just as every other country does?

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Might the worries of those who are concerned about the increase in quotas over the next 15 years be assuaged somewhat by the fact that existing quotas are largely unused?

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Happy new year, Madam Deputy Speaker. Australia is the only country in the developed world on WWF’s list of global deforestation hotspots, and beef production is the No. 1 driver of this. In the great barrier reef catchments, 94% of land clearance is linked to it. It is destroying the habitats of threatened species, including the koala—and I am sure we would all want to preserve the koala’s habitats. Can the Secretary of State assure me that we will not, under this trade agreement, allow the import of more beef that is linked to deforestation?

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We have had another fantastic trade deal that epitomises the cornerstone of one of the reasons people voted to leave the European Union, which was to set our own independent trade policy. We have heard a lot about agriculture but not a lot about young people, particularly professional young workers. Will my right hon. Friend explain the benefits of this deal for those young professional workers who will now have easier access to the wonderful lived experience of working down under?

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Fair play to Canberra, because they have no’ half scored a great deal with this one. It must be delicious to have scored such a great trade deal over your former overlords in London. I look forward to the benefits that this will bring to Scottish distilling—gin and whisky—but if exports of lamb and sheep meat from Australia to the United Kingdom are so insignificant to the Australians, why did you not write them out of the deal, because it is what you are getting the most heat on?

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First, I welcome the Secretary of State’s very positive win-win attitude towards trade negotiations, as opposed to that of some others in this House. She mentioned visas, specifically for young people. Could she give the House a little bit more information about the projected numbers of workers likely to be going backwards and forwards, and the sectors they are likely to be involved with?

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I wish you a happy new year, Madam Deputy Speaker. From the enthusiastic way in which the Secretary of State is selling this deal, she has clearly been drinking a lot of the Prime Minister’s Kool-Aid, but no matter how much positive spin she puts on it, it is a bad deal for County Durham beef and sheep farmers, including those in my constituency. Those people are already struggling because of the restrictions that have come about because of Brexit, so I ask her what discussions she has had with her counterparts in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about support for those farmers in years to come.

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What a great way to start 2022. I commend not only the Secretary of State and her predecessor, but the Australian high commissioner, the hon. George Brandis, who has been so passionate about the relationship between the two nations, and strongly support all the work that has gone on to make today possible and have this fantastic trade deal become reality. Is it not fantastic that this deal has been achieved? We were told that it would take 10 years to do any trade deal, and this has been done in a matter of just over a year. Does the Secretary of State agree that this is a golden opportunity in this year of the Queen’s platinum jubilee also to extend more trade and more co-operation to the Commonwealth, and other realms and territories?

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I am passionate about free trade, but this deal undermines our farmers' standards. The animal welfare differences between the UK and Australia are staggering. How will the Secretary of State reassure her own farmers who may be shocked by the deal?

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The UK-Australia trade deal is excellent for increasing exports. Will the Secretary of State support companies to improve their sales skills to take advantage of new markets?

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The Secretary of State mentioned passing the deal to the Trade and Agriculture Commission for comment. What will she do with their comments?

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New free trade deals are important for prosperity. Can she reassure that her Department will do everything possible to promote British farmers' produce in Australia?

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The procurement chapter excludes an environmental chapter despite assurances that such chapters would be included on a deal-by-deal basis. How can the Government commit to tackling climate crisis through this agreement?

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What are next steps for joining CPTPP and progress on a new framework for Government-to-Government contracts?

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How can we encourage Australia to produce meat products using high animal welfare standards as we do?