Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK-Australia Trade Deal

Thursday 17 June 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department secured a special agricultural safeguard with strict automatic volume triggers for the UK-Australia trade deal.
  • Australian beef and lamb will face tariffs for the first ten years, followed by a safeguard period for five more years.
  • Concerns were raised about lack of consultation with trade bodies and Parliament before the deal was announced.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stuart McDonald SNP
Brexit Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question arises from concerns about the potential negative effects of the proposed UK-Australia trade agreement on both UK and Scottish agricultural producers.

Question

What assessment has his Department made of the potential effect of the proposed UK-Australia trade deal on (a) UK and (b) Scottish agricultural producers?

Answer from George Eustice

As part of the agreement with Australia, we secured a special agricultural safeguard which has a strict automatic volume trigger. For the first 10 years, Australian beef and lamb will be subject to a tariff rate quota, followed by a special agricultural safeguard for the next five years.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide an assessment of the potential effect on UK and Scottish agricultural producers as requested. It focuses instead on safeguards put in place.

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Q2 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Brexit Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question arises from concerns that the proposed UK-Australia trade agreement was announced without adequate consultation with relevant trade bodies and the Parliament.

Question

This Opposition Member acknowledges the world-class nature of the crofting, farming sector, and food production in the UK but raises concern over a lack of consultation with trade bodies and Parliament before announcing the deal. What can be done to reassure these industries that future deals will see more consultation?

Answer from George Eustice

The Department for International Trade has groups including one covering agri-food that discuss approaches to trade deals and help identify priorities. While confidential mandates are kept secret during final stages of negotiation, as much information is shared with stakeholders, including the National Farmers Union.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer acknowledges existing mechanisms but does not directly address concerns about past lack of consultation or provide specific commitments for future dealings.

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Q3 Stuart McDonald SNP
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of safeguards and tariffs in the proposed UK-Australia trade agreement, particularly regarding beef and lamb imports.

Question

Will the Secretary confirm that Australian farmers have tariff-free access from day one up to a cap 60 times current levels for beef, and three times for lamb? Does this render promises of a 15-year protection period redundant?

Answer from George Eustice

We have to look at this in context: Australia does not currently sell us these goods due to a minuscule tariff rate quota for beef. Additionally, we already have a TRQ with New Zealand that is over 100,000 tonnes and New Zealand does not fill it.

Not addressed: The answer avoids confirming the specifics of tariff-free access or addressing whether promises of protection are redundant. Instead, it discusses current import levels and existing agreements with New Zealand.

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