Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Trade Negotiations: Welsh Government

Thursday 21 October 2021 · 2 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department for International Trade has established structures to engage constructively with the Welsh Government.
  • The Department will be speaking with Welsh Government counterparts in due course, as they always have done.
  • The hon. Gentleman misses the point about trade opportunities for Welsh farmers to sell to 68 countries worldwide.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jonathan Edwards PC
Wales Business & Trade
Context

The Welsh Government and various organizations have expressed concerns about the direction of UK trade policy, particularly in relation to food production.

Question

What recent discussions has she had with the Welsh Government regarding her Department's ongoing trade negotiations?

Answer from Ranil Jayawardena

The Department for International Trade has established structures to engage very constructively with devolved Administrations across the United Kingdom, including the Welsh Government. I and my fellow Ministers will be speaking with Welsh Government counterparts in due course, as we always have done.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide details of recent discussions or specific engagements with the Welsh Government on trade negotiations.

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Q2 Jonathan Edwards PC
Business & Trade Environment
Context

The Welsh Government, Hybu Cig Cymru, and farmers unions have raised concerns about the environmental implications of undercutting domestic food production with imports from distant countries.

Question

With specific regard to the fears expressed by the Welsh Government, Hybu Cig Cymru, and farmer unions regarding UK trade policy, especially concerning food—heightened by today's announcement about a deal with New Zealand—can he explain the environmental sense of undercutting domestic food production?

Answer from Ranil Jayawardena

I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman slightly misses the point about trade. The opportunity for trade is for us to be able to sell all over the world too. Welsh farmers, along with British farmers across our country, will seek opportunities to trade not only with 68 countries around the world with whom we have deals and the EU but also more to come—with the Gulf, India, and much more in future. New Zealand and Australia sell most of their products to Asia where prices are higher, so our farmers need not be concerned.

Not addressed: Did not address environmental concerns about undercutting domestic food production with imports from distant countries.

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