The NFU has highlighted its concerns about possible concessions which may provide further access to the UK market for WTO members.
International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox has announced the end of the period of certification for the UK’s Schedule of Concessions at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
This is where WTO members can lodge their objections to the UK’s trading commitments under a process known as ‘technical rectification’.
The NFU understands that at least one formal objection has been made by Russia to the UK’s schedule. More objections are expected to emerge over the coming days.
However, up to 20 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia and the US have previously raised objections to the proposals presented by the UK and EU.
'Objections'
The schedule establishes the UK’s trading position and sets out important commitments for the trading of goods globally, including ‘bound’ (or maximum) tariff levels and Tariff Rate Quotas.
This schedule will remain ‘uncertified’ until all members of the WTO agree to ratify it.
However, having an ‘uncertified’ schedule does not prevent the UK from continuing to trade as a precedent for trading on a ‘uncertified’ schedule is set by the EU, whose schedule has not been ratified by all 164 WTO members since 2013.
In light of the objections made, Dr Fox has announced that the government will now enter a phase of negotiations known as the Article 28 negotiations under the WTO.
During this process, objecting countries and others with a substantial interest can further set out their concerns.
The UK may be asked to provide additional market access to products or other forms of compensation to countries that can demonstrate its trade will be damaged by the UK approach.
'British high standards'
The NFU's Chief EU exit and international trade adviser, Gail Soutar said the union is "concerned" that concessions on further market access could be granted in the Article 28 negotiations, which could pave the way for greater volumes of non-EU agricultural products to be sold to the UK market.
She said: "These products are often produced in a different operating environment than those of British farmers and which may not necessarily meet the high standards to which our farmers adhere.
"We believe that increased market access would be unnecessary as the concessions already granted reflect existing trade flows into the UK.
“The UK’s approach to extracting our trading commitments from the EU 28 has been fair and robust so far, and has served the interests of agriculture in the UK."
Ms Soutar added: "As the Schedule enters the next stage of the WTO certification procedure the NFU will continue to support our Government in ensuring that British farmers are not disadvantaged as a result of regaining our independent seat at the WTO.
“It is essential that the UK Government remains firm in its assignment of existing global trading commitments and does not concede any further market access through the Article 28 process,” she said.
