NPA response to UK-USA trade agreement

  While we still await the details of today’s agreement, it is an important first step in restarting trading relations with the US. The US market is worth £24 million on average and represents our fourth largest export destination for UK pork.  

  The NPA supports international trade, which helps to meet the UK’s demand for pigmeat and compliments domestic production, helping to maximise pig carcase balance. However, it is vital that this is done in such a way that protects the UK’s high production standards and ensures there is an equivalence in all trade deals.  

  While the NPA welcomes government assurances that “protections on food standards” have been maintained, we reiterate our position that the UK Government should establish a set of core production standards that would apply to both domestically produced and imported food in order to be sold in the UK. Implementing core standards will prevent UK farmers’ animal welfare and sustainability efforts from being undermined and ensure that the UK does not simply offshore food production to countries with less sustainable systems and lower animal welfare standards.  

  Allowing goods into the UK produced to standards that would not be legal for our producers, would represent a betrayal to British farmers. The trade agreement reached with India earlier this week sets an important precedent for future trade agreements, recognising sensitive farming sectors like pork and the importance in upholding the UK’s high production standards. 

For further information, please contact NPA@NPAnet.org.uk