High Peak MP Robert Largan has welcomed the formal launch of the new Trade and Agriculture Commission, unveiled by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss. 

The Commission will ensure our high production standards are upheld, and our farmers are able to 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.

This includes boosting local food and drink exports. Our region employs the highest number of people in the UK food and drink industry (61,000) and produced £3.86 billion of added value for the economy last year.

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 a 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.

Robert Largan MP commented:

“Upholding our high standards of animal welfare, food safety, and environmental protection has been a priority for me, which is why I rebelled and refused to vote with the Government on a proposed amendment to the Agriculture Bill.

“This Commission is a welcome sign of the Government’s intent to listen to farmers. I will be following the its work very closely, and looking forward to seeing how their findings can improve opportunities for High Peak farmers.”