Australia FTA: Food and Agriculture

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 9 Nov 2021 Closed: 9 Nov 2022 Parliament page
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 … Read more
13 Recommendations
3 Conclusions
1 Report
6 Oral sessions
2 Letters
7 Events
Activity timeline 17 events
12 Oct
2022
Report published
12 Oct
2022
Correspondence
22 Jun
2022
Correspondence
17 Jun
2022
Report published
14 Jun
2022
Formal meeting (private meeting) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
11 May
2022
Oral evidence
11 May
2022
Oral evidence
11 May
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
11 May
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
29 Mar
2022
Oral evidence
29 Mar
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
8 Mar
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
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First report - Australia FTA: Food and Agriculture HC 23 17 Jun 2022 16 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
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 … Read more
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.
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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 … Read more
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.
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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 … Read more
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.
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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 … Read more
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.
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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 … Read more
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.
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Government Response AI assessment · 16 of 13 classified
Accepted 5
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 8
Deferred 2
Total 13 recs + 3 conclusions
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