Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what meetings officials in her Department have had with representatives of (a) the US Administration, (b) the Australian Government and (c) EU27 nations about maintaining UK standards on (i) animal welfare, (ii) environmental and (iii) food safety in any Free Trade Agreements.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
UK officials continue to engage with US and Australian officials in preparation for the launch of negotiations and to help build a shared understanding of our countries’ approaches and ambitions for their future bilateral trade and investment relationship.
In their interactions with EU27 officials, UK officials have reiterated that while laws and regulations may diverge from those of the EU, the Government will uphold the UK’s high regulatory standards.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she has plans to ensure the exclusion of goods produced to animal welfare standards that are lower than the UK standard from negotiations on future trade deals, and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Conor Burns
All animal products imported into the UK under existing or future free trade agreements will, as now, have to comply with our food safety standards. We will use the opportunities provided through future free trade agreements and wider international engagement to promote high animal welfare standards among our international trading partners.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans the Government has to set baseline import standards and due diligence requirements on companies importing soy.
Answered by George Hollingbery
Imports of fruit and vegetables, including soy and soy-based products, from outside the European Union must meet the same standards as food produced in the EU.
Maintaining safety and public confidence in the food we eat is of the highest priority. Without exception, imports must meet all the relevant UK product rules and regulations. The EU Withdrawal Act will transfer onto the UK statute book all current EU food safety and animal welfare standards.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 23 May 2019 to Question 256264, when negotiating a trade agreement with the US Administration if he will ensure that the UK is able to decline to import food produced to lower animal welfare and food safety standards than those of the UK.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The Government has made it clear that any future trade deal with the US must work for UK consumers, farmers and food manufacturers as well as protecting the UK’s high standards of food safety, animal welfare and environmental protection.
Maintaining safety and public confidence in the food we eat is of the highest priority. Without exception, imports must meet all the relevant UK product rules and regulations. The EU Withdrawal Act will transfer onto the UK statute book all current EU food safety and animal welfare standards.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the compatibility with the rules of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade of a restriction in a trade agreement with the US on the import into the UK of poultry washed with (i) chlorine and (ii) other disinfectants.
Answered by George Hollingbery
Where a measure conforms with the provisions of the Agreement to the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) it is presumed to also conform with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade under Article 2.4 of the SPS Agreement.
The existing food safety provisions regarding chlorine and other pathogen reduction treatments for poultry will be transferred into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on (a) UK farmers and (b) poultry welfare standards of the importation of poultry washed with (i) chlorine and (ii) other disinfectants from the US.
Answered by George Hollingbery
We are committed to maintaining our rigorous standards on animal welfare and food safety after Brexit - high standards and high quality are what our domestic and global customers demand, and that is what we will provide.
The existing food safety provisions regarding chlorine and other pathogen reduction treatments for poultry will be transferred into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2018 to Question 117208 on Anti-dumping Duties: Aluminium, what recent steps he has taken to ensure that anti-dumping duties on aluminium foil will be maintained after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Hollingbery
On 24 July 2018, the government published the provisional findings of the trade remedies call for evidence into which existing EU measures will be transitioned. The provisional findings indicate the measures on aluminium foil will be terminated when the UK leaves the EU. No UK producer responded to the call for evidence
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/call-for-evidence-to-identify-uk-interest-in-existing-eu-trade-remedy-measures
Since then, UK producers and interested parties were invited to provide further information which may affect these findings. The government is in the final stages of considering additional information from industry, and will publish the final report shortly.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2018 to Question 177208 on Antidumping Duties: Aluminium, when his Department plans to publish the final report on the trade remedies call for evidence into which existing EU measures will be transitioned once the UK has left the EU.
Answered by George Hollingbery
On 24 July 2018, the government published the provisional findings of the trade remedies call for evidence into which existing EU measures will be transitioned. The provisional findings indicate the measures on aluminium foil will be terminated when the UK leaves the EU. No UK producer responded to the call for evidence
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/call-for-evidence-to-identify-uk-interest-in-existing-eu-trade-remedy-measures
Since then, UK producers and interested parties were invited to provide further information which may affect these findings. The government is in the final stages of considering additional information from industry, and will publish the final report shortly.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the (a)(i) validity of cases brought before the WTO dispute resolution mechanism to which the EU has been the respondent which relate to food standards and (ii) proportionality of the EU's response to those cases in the last 10 years and (b) the potential for the UK to face similar disputes in the event that it maintains the same food standards after leaving the EU.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The European Commission was responsible for responding to the WTO disputes relating to food standards, including contesting the validity of the challenge where appropriate, and developing a proportionate response. The EU will continue to act on the UK’s behalf in WTO disputes while we remain a Member State. The UK, through its membership of the EU has supported WTO actions taken by the European Commission.
The UK supports the global-rules based system and recognises the importance of complying with WTO rules. We recognise the importance of all our actions being WTO compliant. My officials are looking at where potential disputes could arise, including reviewing case law, to help us prepare for any potential future disputes across a range of issues. We are currently building our capability to conduct international trade disputes independently after we leave the EU. We will be ready to protect UK interests and to defend any disputes brought against us.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that anti-dumping duties on aluminium foil are maintained when the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Hollingbery
On 24 July 2018, the government published the provisional findings of the trade remedies call for evidence into which existing EU measures will be transitioned. The provisional findings from business indicate the measures on aluminium foil will be terminated when the UK leaves the EU. No UK producer responded to the call for evidence.
Since then, interested parties were invited to provide further information which may affect these findings. The government is currently considering additional information from industry, and aims to publish a final report before the end of 2018.