Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Third Report - Implications of the UK-Australia FTA for Wales
Welsh Affairs Committee
HC 481
Published 4 August 2021
Recommendations
2
We welcome the UK Government’s commitment to including the impact on Wales in the impact...
Recommendation
We welcome the UK Government’s commitment to including the impact on Wales in the impact assessment for the UK-Australia FTA. However, we reiterate our previous recommendation that the UK Government should publish a Wales-specific impact assessment for free trade agreements …
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Wales Office
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5
Para 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 …
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Wales Office
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6
On establishing the statutory TAC, the UK Government should publish a statement clearly outlining the...
Recommendation
On establishing the statutory TAC, the UK Government should publish a statement clearly outlining the role of the TAC and the role that the TAC will play in feeding into Parliamentary scrutiny of FTAs. (Paragraph 31) Implications of the UK-Australia …
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Wales Office
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Conclusions (8)
1
Conclusion
Para 11
We are satisfied that the UK Government has sufficiently engaged with the Welsh Government during the consultation phase for the UK-Australia free trade agreement. However, given that trade agreements overlap with areas of devolved competence, we suggest that the Welsh Government should have access to the draft treaty text prior …
3
Conclusion
Para 28
We are alert to the concerns of Welsh farmers that the gradual removal of tariffs on Australian beef and lamb potentially poses a competitive threat. However, this is unlikely to manifest in the short term, and it is far from certain that the UK will be flooded with Australian beef …
4
Conclusion
Para 29
The UK Government should respond to the report of the first Trade and Agriculture Commission.
7
Conclusion
Para 32
The TAC must include at least one member who understands and has direct experience of the agricultural and regulatory landscape of Wales.
8
Conclusion
Free trade agreements offer opportunities for Welsh businesses to export and we welcome that the UK-Australia FTA will result in the removal of tariffs for British exports. However, in order to maximise opportunities for Welsh farmers to export their goods and access new markets, the UK should significantly increase the …
9
Conclusion
Para 39
We welcome the commitments to new mobility arrangements that will make it easier for Welsh people to travel to and work in Australia.
10
Conclusion
Para 40
We welcome the Agreement in Principle reached between the UK and Australian governments and await the final text of the free trade agreement (FTA). However, while the UK-Australia FTA is unlikely to have a significant impact on Wales in the short term, we are conscious of the concerns that exist …
11
Conclusion
We welcome the UK Government’s commitment to allow three months for parliamentary scrutiny between the publication of the final text of the agreement and laying the text before the House. We will continue to scrutinise the impacts of this and other FTAs on Wales. (Paragraph 41) 16 Implications of the …