Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Paragraph: 30
We are concerned that the statutory Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) is not yet operational...
Recommendation
We are concerned that the statutory Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) is not yet operational and we urge the UK Government to set up the TAC as soon as possible. The UK Government intends to allow the TAC to scrutinise the final text of the UK-Australia free trade agreement (FTA), but this may occur too late to enable effective Parliamentary scrutiny of the agreement. To improve scrutiny of future FTAs, the TAC’s report should be published alongside the final text, impact assessment and explanatory memorandum.
Paragraph Reference:
30
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The breadth of the Trade and Agriculture Commission’s recommendations is extensive– covering strategic policy, standards, export support, staffing, marketing, human rights, environment and animal welfare. The report warrants a serious, considered response, not a rushed one. We’re continuing to discuss the key issues raised and will publish our response as soon as it is ready. We can assure the committee that the response will explicitly uphold and affirm the Government’s commitment to maintaining and protecting the UK’s high agri-food safety standards. We will not pursue any trade deals that would undermine UK farmers unfairly or compromise those high standards.