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Stuart has today welcomed the formal launch of the new Trade and Agriculture Commission.
The Commission will ensure our high standards are upheld and our farmers are able seize new opportunities to export their goods abroad. This will help the UK agriculture sector to be amongst the most competitive and innovative in the world.
- Commission provides expert advice to government to ensure UK trade policy secures opportunities for UK farmers and upholds high standards.
- It will advise on trade policy that will help boost Yorkshire and Humber’s food and drink exports. The Yorkshire and Humber food and drink industry includes more than 1,100 food and drink producers, employing around 55,000 people and with a combined turnover in excess of £8bn.
The Commission was established to bring together stakeholders across the industry, calling on their expertise to advise on:
- Trade policies the Government should adopt to secure opportunities for UK farmers, while ensuring the sector remains competitive and that animal welfare and environmental standards in food production are not undermined.
- Advancing and protecting British consumer interests and those of developing countries.
- How the UK engages the WTO to build a coalition that helps advance higher animal welfare standards across the world.
- Developing trade policy that identifies and opens up new export opportunities for the UK agricultural industry – in particular for SMEs – and that benefits the UK economy as a whole
Stuart said: “Having been contacted by a number of constituents and businesses about setting up a commission to monitor our standards as we leave the European Union, I am delighted by the announcement of the Trade and Agriculture Commission. I am particularly pleased that this Commission will advise on how trade policy can ensure that animal welfare and environmental standards in food production are not undermined, as I know this will come as welcome news to my constituents in Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough.”
International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, said: “We’re stepping up our engagement with all the groups who have an interest in Britain’s agriculture trade policy. The Trade and Agriculture Commission will ensure the voices of the public and industry are heard, and that their interests are advanced and protected. It will advise the government on how Britain can remain a world-leader in animal welfare and environmental standards, and how we can seize new export opportunities for our farmers. This is about putting British farming at the heart of our trade policy and ensuring that our agriculture industry is amongst the most competitive and innovative in the world.”