Lib Dems Raise Concerns Over Australian and New Zealand Trade Deals on Wales

·       The Liberal Democrats have reiterated concerns over the negative impacts the UK’s trade deals with Australia and New Zealand could have on the Welsh agricultural industry.  

·       The contribution from Sarah Green MP comes in the same debate as explosive comments made by the Former Conservative environment secretary George Eustice who told the House of Commons the Australia free trade deal was “not actually a very good deal for the UK.” 

·       Welsh Conservative MPs and MSs have publicly defended both the New Zealand and Australian trade deals. 

During a debate on the UK’s new Free Trade Agreements with Australia and New Zealand in the House of Commons yesterday, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for International Trade and Wales, Sarah Green MP, highlighted the Conservative Government’s failure to analyse the impact of the deals on the different nations and regions in the UK. Her comments follow previous criticism from the Welsh Liberal Democrats, who have accused the Conservatives of selling Welsh farmers down the river in one-sided trade negotiations.   

The deals would eventually give Australia and New Zealand tariff-free access to UK meat markets, with no major concessions in return. Both deals have been criticised by the Farmer’s Union for Wales (FUW) and National Farmers Union Wales (NFU Wales).  

The FUW reported that the increase in New Zealand’s import quota for sheep meat in year one of its UK agreement is more than forty times higher per capita than the equivalent quota agreed in its deal with the European Union. According to the FUW, this “demonstrates a failure of the UK Government to protect UK agriculture in trade negotiations.” 

The potential increase in imported meat poses a serious threat to Welsh lamb and cattle farmers, who risk going out of business.  

During her contribution, Green also highlighted Liberal Democrat calls for the UK Government to outline an overarching trade strategy, setting out the UK’s economic ambitions, minimum standards on human rights, environmental standards, labour standards and safety standards. She also urged the government to clarify what success looks like in securing trade deals. 

Commenting Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Green stated: 

“This Conservative Government has failed Wales by neglecting to carry out detailed assessments of how these trade deals will impact them, as well as other regions and nations in the UK. 

“In Wales, a world-class lamb industry is now at risk, as are the communities relying on it.  

“The Liberal Democrats are calling on this Conservative government to fully assess the impact new trade agreements will have on the different parts of the UK.  

“They must also set out an overarching trade strategy that guarantees a stringent assessment of any trade deal against minimum standards on human rights, environmental standards, labour standards and safety standards. 

“This Conservative party cannot continue selling out entire industries for marginal economic gain while silencing the voices of those affected by denying proper parliamentary scrutiny.”