The Government has announced its commitment to a Trade and Agriculture Commission to advise on the future of trade deals, with the NFU calling the news  “concrete action”. Charlotte Cunningham reports.

Though comments from Defra minister, Victoria Prentis, at this year’s CerealsLIVE suggested otherwise, Liz Truss, secretary of state for international trade, has announced today that the Government have agreed in principle to the establishment of a Trade and Agriculture Commission under Department for International Trade auspices.

In a letter to NFU president, Minette Batters, Liz said the work of the Commission should focus on four areas:

  1. Considering the policies that the Government should adopt in free trade agreements to ensure UK farmers don’t face unfair competition and that their high animal welfare and production standards are not undermined.
  2. Reflecting consumer interests and those of developing countries.
  3. Considering how the UK engages the WTO to build a coalition that helps advance higher animal welfare standards across the world.
  4. Developing the trade policy that identifies and opens up new export opportunities for the UK agricultural industry – in particular for small and medium sized businesses – and that benefits the UK economy as a whole.

Concrete action

Responding to the announcement, Minette said: “I’m very pleased that the government is taking concrete action to address the challenges of safeguarding our high food and farming standards by agreeing to set up a Trade and Agriculture Commission, something we first called for over 18 months ago. This is a hugely important development.

“We look forward to working with government and other stakeholders in the days ahead on the Commission’s terms of reference, to ensure that its work is genuinely valuable. In particular, it will be vital that Parliament is able to properly consider the Commission’s recommendations and can ensure government implements them effectively.

“The NFU will continue to scrutinise the progress of trade negotiations with the USA and other countries over the coming months outside of the work of the Commission so that our future trade deals work for British farmers and consumers, and believe it’s vital that Parliament is provided a strengthened role in this regard as well.”