The Government must not allow UK farmers and food producers to be undercut by cheaper imports produced to lower welfare standards, in line with its repeated commitments to not lower food standards and uphold high animal welfare standards in trade agreements. This risk is heightened by the proposals to raise on-farm welfare standards set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, which will affect producers regardless of whether on-farm welfare ultimately falls within the scope of the SPS negotiations. A Swiss- style animal welfare carve out exemption for the UK would preserve the UK’s ability to maintain and enhance domestic animal welfare standards within a common SPS area. (Conclusion, Paragraph 19)