Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Penrith and The Border)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will take steps to ensure that animal welfare clauses or chapters are inserted into the Australia trade agreement.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Prime Ministers Johnson and Morrison secured an historic free trade agreement on 15 June at Number 10 Downing Street. The Government expects to publish an agreement document outlining what has been agreed for Agreement in Principle (AiP) in the coming days.
This agreement with Australia secures positive steps on animal welfare. The Government has secured a non-regression clause with Australia to ensure that neither country lowers current or future animal welfare protections. The Government has also secured commitments to cooperate together on animal welfare internationally.
The UK produces high quality, premium produce that is globally sought after, and maintaining high domestic standards is a red line in all the UK’s trade negotiations, as the Government works to bring new export opportunities to British farmers.