Kemi Badenoch MP has welcomed the formal launch of the new Trade and Agriculture Commission, unveiled by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss at an event in Whitehall earlier this week.
The Commission will ensure our high standards are upheld and our farmers are able seize new opportunities to export their goods abroad. This will help the UK agriculture sector to be amongst the most competitive and innovative in the world.
The Commission was established to bring together stakeholders across the industry, calling on their expertise to advise on:
- Trade policies the Government should adopt to secure opportunities for UK farmers, while ensuring the sector remains competitive and that animal welfare and environmental standards in food production are not undermined.
- Advancing and protecting British consumer interests and those of developing countries.
- How the UK engages the WTO to build a coalition that helps advance higher animal welfare standards across the world.
- Developing trade policy that identifies and opens up new export opportunities for the UK agricultural industry – in particular for SMEs – and that benefits the UK economy as a whole
MP for Saffron Walden, Mr Badenoch commented:
“I recently spoke with local farmers across the constituency and we discussed the proposal of a Trade and Agriculture Commission. I am pleased this Commission has now been launched and will provide expert advice to Government to ensure UK trade policy secures opportunities for our local and UK farmers and upholds our high standards.
“East England exported over £2bn food and drink in 2018 and currently employs 36,000 people making it vital to our local economy. The commission will advise on trade policy that will help boost the East of England’s food and drink exports, ensuring our agriculture industry is amongst the most competitive and innovative in the world.”
