Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will make it her policy to ensure that the UK agricultural sector is safeguarded when legislating for any trade deals.
HM Government will stand firm in trade negotiations to ensure any future trade deals live up to the values of farmers and consumers across the United Kingdom. The Government will not lower standards as it negotiates new trade deals.
The Government is also clear that its trade deals will not mean a flood of cheap imports. In addition, under the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Government has provided multiple forms of protection for the agricultural sector, including Tariff Rate Quotas, product specific safeguards, and a general bilateral safeguard mechanism which will provide a safety net for industry if they face serious injury from increased imports as a direct consequence of the FTA.