Yesterday in Parliament, Fay Jones MP highlighted the important role the President of NFU Cymru, John Davies will be playing on the newly established Trade and Agriculture Commission.
During an Urgent Question to the Secretary of State for International Trade, Miss Jones described Mr Davies, who farms at Merthyr Cynog in Brecon and Radnorshire, as a “loud clear voice for Welsh farming – not holding back on his advice to Government.”
Miss Jones called on the Minister for Trade Policy, Greg Hands MP to recognise that having experts such as Mr Davies scrutinising the detail of trade deals ensures they benefit Welsh farmers.
The Minister agreed and replied, “farming in Wales is so important that we have put its representatives on the Trade and Agriculture Commission not once, but twice; both NFU Cymru and the Farmers’ Union of Wales is on it”.
The Trade and Agriculture Commission was initially launched for a six-month period in July to bring together voices from across the agricultural sector and report back to inform trade policy and negotiations.
Since then it has heard from dozens of experts on farming, animal welfare, the environment and trade, called for evidence from hundreds of key voices across the industry, as well as engaging local farmers, producers, businesses and MPs from all over the UK through a series of virtual regional roadshows.
At the start of November, the Government decided to extend the Commission and give it a more active role through a new legislative underpinning, to be reviewed every three years. It will produce and publish a report on the impact on animal welfare and agriculture of each free trade deal the government signs after the end of the EU transition period.
Commenting, Fay Jones MP said:
“The Trade and Agriculture Commission is going to play an incredibly important role in our trade negotiations going forward, and I am delighted that one of Brecon and Radnorshire’s own will be offering his advice to the UK Government.
“I would like to welcome John Davies to his role on the Trade and Agriculture Commission. He is an expert when it comes to the agricultural sector and I have no doubt that his advice and guidance as President of NFU Cymru will shape our future trade policy.
“I am delighted that the Trade and Agriculture Commission has now been placed on a statutory footing. This proves the UK Government’s commitment to backing British farming.”