{"value":{"id":1293789,"memberId":4097,"member":null,"memberRole":"Secretary of State for International Trade","uin":"HCWS814","dateMade":"2021-03-02T00:00:00","answeringBodyId":202,"answeringBodyName":"Department for International Trade","title":"Report from the Trade and Agriculture Commission","text":"<p>Last year, the Government established the independent Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) to place UK farming at the heart of our trade policy.</p><p> </p><p>Today the Commission publishes its advisory report on trade and agriculture. The report makes recommendations covering:</p><p> </p><ul><li>The strong action needed to maximise export promotion opportunities for the agri-food sector.</li><li>The UK leadership required at the WTO to change international framework rules on trade and standards, to tackle global issues like climate change and environmental degradation.</li><li>The UK promoting free and fair trade whilst maintaining high standards in areas such as animal welfare, ethical standards, and the environment.</li><li>The UK being particularly supportive of developing countries to access the full benefits of the global trading system.</li><li>Welcoming the statutory Trade and Agriculture Commission to help uphold effective scrutiny of trade deals.</li></ul><p> </p><p>In compiling this advisory report, the Commission sought evidence from trade and agriculture experts from across our four nations, including from local farmers, businesses, the National Farmers’ Unions and Parliamentarians.</p><p> </p><p>I am grateful to all those who contributed evidence and expertise during this challenging time. I thank the chair, Tim Smith, and all Commission members for delivering this incisive advisory report and I look forward to carefully considering the recommendations and will respond in due course.</p><p> </p><p>To continue the excellent work that the Commission has started, we are now putting the Commission onto a statutory footing and evolving its role to boost scrutiny of new free trade deals. We will seek to appoint new members in due course.</p><p>In addition, last week I launched our Open Doors campaign to help farmers and producers take advantage of the 64 trade deals we have done to date, to sell more around the world including fast-growing markets in the Americas and Asia Pacific.</p><p> </p><p>A copy of the advisory report has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and has been published on GOV.UK</p>","house":"Commons","noticeNumber":2,"hasAttachments":false,"hasLinkedStatements":true,"linkedStatements":[{"linkedStatementId":1299491,"linkType":"JointStatement","linkDate":"2021-03-04T00:00:00"}],"attachments":[]},"links":[{"rel":"self","href":"/Statements/1293789","method":"GET"}]}