Australia FTA: Food and Agriculture
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Closed
Inquiry
The Government published the text of its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Australia on 16 December 2021. The followed the publication of the agreement in principle in June 2021. The UK-Australia FTA is the first new trade deal negotiated “from scratch”/ that the UK Government will have signed since leaving …
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13
Recommendations
3
Conclusions
1
Report
6
Oral sessions
2
Letters
7
Events
Activity timeline 17 events
12 Oct
2022
2022
12 Oct
2022
2022
22 Jun
2022
2022
17 Jun
2022
2022
Report published
14 Jun
2022
2022
Formal meeting (private meeting) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
11 May
2022
2022
Oral evidence
11 May
2022
2022
Oral evidence
11 May
2022
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
11 May
2022
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
29 Mar
2022
2022
Oral evidence
29 Mar
2022
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
8 Mar
2022
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
11 May 2022
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Chris Heaton · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
James Clarke · Department for International Trade
Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt · Department for International Trade
Victoria Prentis · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
11 May 2022
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Professor Lorand Bartels · Trade and Agriculture Commission
29 Mar 2022
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Dr Chris Kebbell · New Zealand High Commission
His Excellency The Hon Bede Corry · New Zealand High Commission
His Excellency the Honourable George Brandis QC · Australian High Commission
Kieran Macdonell · Australian High Commission
8 Mar 2022
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Andrew Opie · British Retail Consortium (BRC)
Anna Sands · WWF
James Russell · British Veterinary Association
Kate Nicholls · UKHospitality
Ms Orla Delargy · Sustain
Sue Davies MBE · Which?
23 Feb 2022
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Emily Rees · European Centre for International Political Economy
Professor Fiona Smith · University of Leeds
Professor Louise Manning · Royal Agricultural University
Sarah Baker · Disability Unit
Sarah Baker · Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
8 Feb 2022
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Mr Phil Stocker · National Sheep Association
Neil Shand · National Beef Association
Nick von Westenholz · National Farmers' Union
Peter Hardwick · British Meat Processors Association
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First report - Australia FTA: Food and Agriculture | HC 23 | 17 Jun 2022 | 16 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
16 results
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
We understand the concerns that UK cattle and sheep farmers have raised about the impact...
We understand the concerns that UK cattle and sheep farmers have raised about the impact of additional competition from Australian imports under the UK-Australian FTA, but other witnesses advised us that the immediate risk appears to be limited. However, as …
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Government Response
The government is encouraged by the Committee's support for its proposed monitoring of the impacts of the UK-Australia FTA post-implementation.
2
Recommendation
Deferred
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
While the Government has argued that it has secured three safeguards to protect farmers it...
While the Government has argued that it has secured three safeguards to protect farmers it appears to us that only the general bilateral safeguard mechanism offers any real protection. The volumetric safeguards would only kick in if there were a …
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Government Response
The government states that the technical processes for how the bilateral safeguard mechanism will operate are currently under review and that Parliament will be updated on the outcome.
3
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
In future negotiations the Government should ensure that its approach to negotiating changes to tariff...
In future negotiations the Government should ensure that its approach to negotiating changes to tariff free access to the UK meat market is more sophisticated than just weight of gross products and can differentiate between different cuts of meat—by using …
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Government Response
The government states each FTA is bespoke and may include equivalence approaches, like Carcass Weight Equivalent, but there is no inherent advantage and final outcomes will depend on negotiations. They cite the UK-Australia trade deal includes an alternative mechanism for sheep meat to give added protections to UK producers.
4
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
While the potential for increased agri-food exports from the UK-Australia FTA deal appears modest, the...
While the potential for increased agri-food exports from the UK-Australia FTA deal appears modest, the UK Government must support the food and farming industry to take maximum advantage of the opportunities that do exist. We welcome the Government’s plans to …
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Government Response
The government states its commitment to supporting the agri-food sector to increase the value of UK exports and is embracing fast-growing markets, citing the UK's accession to the CPTPP as an example.
5
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
Given the Government estimates that the net impact of the deal across all agriculture and...
Given the Government estimates that the net impact of the deal across all agriculture and food related sectors is a reduction of £278m, we believe the Government should aid the sector to increase the value of UK food and drink …
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Government Response
The government is committed to supporting the agri-food sector to significantly increase the value of UK exports by embracing fast-growing markets and challenging business in a ‘Race to a Trillion’. The new Food and Drink Export Council will drive a data-led approach to UK agriculture and identify and analyze current and forecasted demand for UK products, and seeking to systematically match a UK offer to these opportunities.
6
Recommendation
Accepted
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
We welcome the innovation of including an animal welfare chapter, in the UK- Australia trade...
We welcome the innovation of including an animal welfare chapter, in the UK- Australia trade deal but we believe that the Government should have pushed further on improving animal welfare standards. This was a missed opportunity for the UK and …
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Government Response
The government states that the UK-Australia FTA does not compromise the UK’s high standards, highlights the non-regression and non-derogation clause on animal welfare, and mentions the joint working group to improve animal welfare standards.
7
Recommendation
Accepted
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
The Trade and Agriculture Commission has concluded that there is likely to be an increase...
The Trade and Agriculture Commission has concluded that there is likely to be an increase in the import of products from Australia produced at lower cost by using pesticides that would not be permitted in the UK. We call upon …
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Government Response
The government states that existing regulations and import tolerances ensure that imported produce is safe for UK consumers and that the HSE employs monitoring and enforcement activities.
8
Recommendation
Deferred
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
We welcome the approach that the UK Government has taken to protecting the UK’s SPS...
We welcome the approach that the UK Government has taken to protecting the UK’s SPS requirements within negotiations on the UK-Australia FTA. It will be essential that the UK robustly maintains this position in negotiations with future trade partners who …
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Government Response
The government is reviewing how to implement remaining import controls in an improved way via the new Target Operating Model, which will be published in the Autumn, and the new controls regime will come into force at the end of 2023.
9
Conclusion
Accepted
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
We welcome the commitment that the Minister made to ensuring that UK trade deals protect...
We welcome the commitment that the Minister made to ensuring that UK trade deals protect the natural environment through a non-regression obligation on relevant regulations and standards that is enforceable with sanctions for non-compliance. We call upon the UK Government …
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Government Response
The government states that the UK-Australia FTA includes enforceable commitments to ensure neither country can derogate from environmental laws to promote trade and that it will seek similar commitments in future FTAs.
10
Recommendation
Accepted
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
However, it is regrettable that these provisions are not enforceable through the dispute resolution process...
However, it is regrettable that these provisions are not enforceable through the dispute resolution process if changes are made at the state level. In future deals the Government should seek to ensure environmental provision are binding on all levels of …
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Government Response
The government states that environment provisions apply across the UK, including the Devolved Administrations, and it will seek similar commitments and provisions in future FTAs.
11
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
It is regrettable that the Government chose to engage in this negotiation without first articulating...
It is regrettable that the Government chose to engage in this negotiation without first articulating the core standards that the food imported into the UK must meet. Setting out core standards would have strengthened the hand of British negotiators, reassured …
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Government Response
The government restates its commitment to upholding high standards and ensuring that farmers are not undercut by unfair competition, noting that all imported products need to meet the UK's SPS import requirements.
12
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
While we believe the Government could have gone further in the UK-Australia FTA on standards,...
While we believe the Government could have gone further in the UK-Australia FTA on standards, it has the opportunity, through the various forums created under the agreement, to continue to discuss environmental and animal welfare issues with Australia as part …
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Government Response
The government will work with all stakeholders as it prepares for the entry into force of this FTA and will provide updates to the International Agreements Committee and International Trade Committee regarding the implementation and continued operation of the Agreement on a regular basis.
13
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
The Government risks negotiating with one hand tied behind its back if it does not...
The Government risks negotiating with one hand tied behind its back if it does not take full advantage of the knowledge and intelligence that the UK sector can provide to support negotiations. The description of the agri-food Trade Advisory Group …
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Government Response
The government states that meaningful two-way engagement with industry stakeholders and the devolved administrations is essential and that TAG membership is regularly reviewed, with the next review this summer.
14
Recommendation
Accepted
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
As the Government has accepted, its Impact Assessment of the UK-Australia FTA is based on...
As the Government has accepted, its Impact Assessment of the UK-Australia FTA is based on a relatively limited model of its likely consequences for farming and other sectors of the economy. We welcome the Government’s review of how to improve …
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Government Response
The Government accepts the recommendations of the Trade Modelling Review Expert Panel to improve the detail, rigour, and presentation of trade modelling and intends to implement them fully, leading to developments in sectoral detail, regional impacts, and adjustment pathways over time.
15
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
We found the TAC’s report extremely helpful and thank Professor Bartels, and his colleagues, for...
We found the TAC’s report extremely helpful and thank Professor Bartels, and his colleagues, for their work. We are concerned that Professor Bartels had to use university funds to support the TAC’s work on the Australia FTA. It is essential …
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Government Response
The government is fully supportive of the Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) and will continue to consider ways to further support the Commission with respect to future agreements and will continue to discuss with the TAC what appropriate level of support is required.
16
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First report - Australia FTA: Food…
We welcome the Government’s assertion that the UK-Australia FTA does not provide a blueprint for...
We welcome the Government’s assertion that the UK-Australia FTA does not provide a blueprint for future agreements. Nevertheless, we recognise the food and farming sector’s concerns that other major agricultural exporting nations may seek to use the existence of this …
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Government Response
The government notes the restating of the Committee’s previous recommendations but offers no specific commitment beyond looking forward to continuing constructive work with the Committee.
Correspondence 2 letters
12 Oct 2022
Correspondence from the Chair to Defra and DIT SoS re Australia FTA Govt response
Parliament page
22 Jun 2022
To committee
Letter from the Secretary of State for International Trade to the Chair regarding the formal pre-ratification scrutiny of the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement Treaty, dated 14 June
Parliament page