Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

British Farmers: Global Exports

Thursday 21 October 2021 · 7 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 5 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department for International Trade supports British farmers to capitalise on new export opportunities created by trade agreements.
  • The Trade and Agriculture Commission will scrutinise future trade deals starting with the free trade agreement.
  • The export support service was launched on 1 October with a new team in Edinburgh to help Scottish exporters.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Duguid Con
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

UK farmers face challenges in accessing global markets. There is a need to support them to increase their exports.

Question

What steps has the Department taken to help increase global export opportunities for British farmers?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

Our trade agreements are lowering tariffs and unlocking new opportunities for food exporters and the farmers that supply them. The Department for International Trade supports such businesses to capitalise on those opportunities, expand into new markets and sell fantastic British produce overseas.

Answered
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Q2 Neil Hudson Con Epping Forest
Brexit Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Farmers in Cumbria and across the UK produce food with high welfare and environmental standards. Concerns exist about future trade deals upholding these standards.

Question

What reassurances can be given to farmers that high standards will be upheld in future trade deals, and that meaningful parliamentary scrutiny will be possible through the establishment of a new Trade and Agriculture Commission?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

The new Trade and Agriculture Commission will play an important role in scrutinising trade agreements after signature. Applications are being considered, and we hope to announce the membership and details shortly. The commission will scrutinise future deals, starting with the free trade agreement with Australia.

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Q3 Simon Baynes
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Welsh farmers are experiencing increased export markets, such as in the US and Japan. There is a need to open up more global markets.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend redouble her efforts to ensure that future trade deals open up even more global markets for Welsh and UK farmers?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

We will unlock even more opportunities for Welsh farmers and exporters. We are committed to enhancing support for businesses across Scotland and the rest of the UK to showcase their amazing goods in new markets.

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Q4 David Duguid Con
Scotland Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

High-quality agricultural produce from Scotland is being exported to Georgia. There is a need to improve access to new export routes.

Question

How can we improve access to new export routes for other high-quality agricultural produce, particularly from Scotland?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

We launched the export support service on 1 October and established a new team in Edinburgh. These teams will help existing and potentially new exporters with some of those new markets, ensuring enhanced support for businesses across Scotland.

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Q5 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Brexit Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

UK pig farmers face challenges including labour shortages and market closures to China. Other European countries have reopened these markets.

Question

What is the Secretary of State doing to address the diplomatic failure in reopening pork markets to China?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

We continue to work with all our farmers to make sure that they are able to move their goods to new markets. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will provide the most up-to-date information on those pork markets.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions to reopen pork markets were not addressed

How: We Continue To Work With All Our Farmers

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Q6 Emily Thornberry Lab Islington South and Finsbury
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

A strategic approach to free trade with New Zealand was published, predicting negative impacts on UK agriculture. The government announced a new deal.

Question

Does the Secretary of State's forecast predict that the recent agreement will cause a reduction in output and employment in the UK agriculture sector?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

I am very confident that the deal struck will provide opportunities for our wonderful food producers to continue selling their goods globally and create new markets as we make more trade deals.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific impact forecast was not confirmed or denied

How: I Am Very Confident That The Deal...

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Q7 Emily Thornberry Lab Islington South and Finsbury
Brexit Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The previous Secretary of State promised checks and balances through the Trade and Agriculture Commission. Concerns exist about its role.

Question

Will the new TAC be asked to examine proposed deals with Australia and New Zealand and confirm whether these benefit our farmers?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

The new TAC will be charged with some very clear direction, given independence to scrutinise both the Australian and New Zealand trade deals and all other trade deals we are looking to strike in the months and years ahead.

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