Australia and CPTPP trade agreements: What are the possible risks and opportunities for UK agriculture?
Tuesday 25 May 2021
Tomorrow, the House of Lords International Agreements Committee will examine UK negotiations to agree a trade deal with Australia and on joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. This follows recent reports that a deal with Australia could be damaging to UK farmers who fear being undercut by large Australian producers.
The evidence session will explore the risks and opportunities for UK farmers, how these could be balanced, the potential impact of agreements with Australia and CPTPP on food standards, including domestic production standards, and animal welfare.
The online evidence session can be followed live on Parliament TV from 4pm tomorrow (Wednesday 26 May 2021).
Witnesses
- Nick von Westenholz, National Farmers’ Union (NFU)
- David Bowles, Head of Public Affairs, RSPCA
- Mary Johnson, Market Access Manager, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA)
Possible questions
- What are the opportunities and risks to UK farmers of a trade deal with Australia, and how would you balance them?
- What are the key benefits and risks to joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement?
- Would joining CPTPP prevent the UK from prohibiting specific production methods, such as the use of antibiotics or hormones?
- How do the animal welfare standards of CPTPP members, including Australia, compare with those of the UK, and how can we ensure that our standards are safeguarded?
- Do you foresee any issues with any provisions in CPTPP, or in an Australian trade agreement, that may clash with the EU’s strict requirements for food and agricultural goods? What could be the impacts for UK farmers and agri-food businesses?
