Select committee: Welsh Affairs Committee
Conclusion 24
5th Report: Brexit and trade: implications for Wales
Published 11 Dec 2020
Paragraph 106
Addressed to Wales Office
Welsh Affairs Committee Brexit and trade: implications for Wales All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
We welcome the progress of trade talks with non-EU countries and the UK Government’s intention to join the CPTPP partnership in 2021. Trade liberalisation will pose challenges, as well as opportunities, for Welsh producers and it is vital that the UK Government recognises the potential risks, as well as rewards, that could face producers as a result of trade negotiations. For example, while we are pleased that trade talks with Australia and New Zealand are progressing, it is clear that FTAs with both countries could have significant implications for the Welsh agricultural sector.
From: Welsh Affairs Committee, 5th Report: Brexit and trade: implications for Wales (HC 176), paragraph 106, 11 December 2020
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 16 February 2021 (deadline 11 February 2021).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government responds to each of the Committee's 14 recommendations in turn, mostly by describing existing action, while stating that it does not plan to publish a Wales-specific impact assessment for trade agreements.
- On cooperation with the devolved administrations, it says the Ministerial Forum for Trade "will continue to facilitate conversations" on current and future free trade agreements and other trade matters.
- On trade impact assessments, it "does not plan to publish a Wales-specific impact assessment", but says impact assessments on future new free trade agreements "will also include" potential economic impacts on UK regions and nations.
- On border readiness, it says timescales for inland facilities are "challenging" and that it is working closely with the Welsh Government. Inland sites in Birmingham and Warrington will be available for hauliers using Welsh ports "until such time as" sites in North and South West Wales are complete.
- On food standards, it states that "Our high standards of food safety will not be watered down in the pursuit of a trade deal."