Recommendation 4

As we concluded in our report on the implications for Wales of the UK/Australia FTA, we are acutely aware of the concerns held by Welsh farmers of the potential competitive threat posed by FTAs. However, while it is far from certain that the UK will be flooded with produce from countries that the UK Government is negotiating FTAs with, it is important that due thought is given to the impact of FTAs on the agricultural sector, food and drink production in Wales. One particular concern is negotiating tactics which will have a disproportionate impact on Wales, because of the greater reliance on agriculture and food production sectors—for example, subverting the interests and protections on agricultural and food production sectors in order to secure preferential access for larger domestic markets, such as, say, financial services. (Paragraph 30) 16 The economic and cultural impacts of trade and environmental policy on family farms in Wales