Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) local authorities, and (2) the food sector, about trade talks with the US; what assessment they have made the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health's call to slow down trade talks with the US to allow for proper consultation with (a) relevant stakeholders, and (b) food organisations, that are currently occupied with supporting communities to get through the COVID-19 crisis.

The Government is committed to a transparent trade policy and will continue engaging with stakeholders, including the food and drinks industry, throughout negotiations.

Our Strategic Trade Advisory Group (STAG) and Expert Trade Advisory Groups (ETAGs), including a dedicated Agri Food ETAG set up jointly with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, regularly discuss the proposed UK-US Free Trade Agreement.

Our trade talks with the US have been based on our negotiating objectives, published on 2 March 2020. The public consultation supporting these objectives was one of the largest in UK Government’s history, receiving nearly 160,000 responses.