Government Ministers Sir Mark Spencer and Greg Hands appeared before the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee this week where Dr Neil Hudson MP quizzed them on how we can bolster an overarching agri-food trade strategy.
The UK is currently joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and negotiating free trade agreements with nations from India to the Gulf States and beyond.
Dr Hudson is resolute in his support for our British farming sector as it seeks to grasp these new trading opportunities and as such quizzed Ministers on how the UK can better support exporters with joined up cross-Government action.
Having previously welcomed measures to implement a Food Security Index, Farm to Fork Summit and new agri-food trade attachés, clearly action is being taken at the top levels of Government. However with responsibilities stretched across three Government Departments (the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) and with a myriad of moving parts, the EFRA Committee has put on record its request for a joined up trade strategy for food and agriculture.
Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
"Global Britain stands at a critical juncture to harness our reinvigorated trading powers for the good of our agri-food sector. We're already seeing important action being taken at the heart of Government with trade attachés, food summits and a new Food Security Index; but working with Ministers, I'm passionate that together our Conservative Government can go that extra mile.
"One area I'm keen to see more movement on is to simplify export information and support for our brilliant UK farmers so we can see British produce sold right across the globe more easily.
"We are a global leader when it comes to agricultural standards so by bolstering our position on the international stage, I am passionate we can lift standards around the world."
