Antony Higginbotham MP has backed the new Trade and Agriculture Commission, unveiled by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss at an event in Whitehall today.
The Commission will ensure the UK’s existing high standards are upheld and local farmers are able seize new opportunities to export their goods abroad. This is intended to 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
International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, said:
“We’re stepping up our engagement with all the groups who have an interest in Britain’s agriculture trade policy. The Trade and Agriculture Commission will ensure the voices of the public and industry are heard, and that their interests are advanced and protected. It will advise the government on how Britain can remain a world-leader in animal welfare and environmental standards, and how we can seize new export opportunities for our farmers.
“This is about putting British farming at the heart of our trade policy and ensuring that our agriculture industry is amongst the most competitive and innovative in the world.”
MP for Burnley, Antony Higginbotham, said:
“We have some world class food manufacturers right here in Burnley, from Warburtons to Kellogg’s, along with a thriving farming community. There are so many opportunities for them to reach new markets, which will have huge benefits for local people, and the Commission will allow us to do that whilst protecting standards here at home too.”
