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
8 results
Clear
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 … Read more
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.
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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 … Read more
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.
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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 … Read more
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.
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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 … Read more
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.
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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 … Read more
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.
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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 … Read more
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.
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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 … Read more
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.
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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 … Read more
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.
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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