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Letter to Secretaries of State (Oct 1 '19) by RSA and other key characters says: "A pre-requisite for this progressive agenda, and all the benefits it will bring, is a level playing field in whatever trading environment follows. The risks to citizens, rural communities, food and farming businesses are immense if we rush into the wrong trade deals after Brexit...The UK must not use future trade deals to offshore its climate and nature commitments to countries with fewer resources and weaker environmental standards. "
Sept '19 UK agree 'trade continuity' deal with 6 S.African countries . Major imports to the UK from these countries include edible fruit and nuts and is worth £10b, bringing total of 'continuity deals' to £99b. PS Trade deal with EU is worth £289B - and does 'continuity' mean the deals were there before?
Liam Fox hired expensive 'Trade Commissioners' - rather than using existing Ambassadors.He promised dozens of deals within 18 months. But the threat of global trade wars has calmed him down Fox underestimated the difficulties of getting British farmers good trade deals "Fox previously said a Brexit trade deal would be “the easiest in human history”, but the MEPs warn that it is now becoming clear that securing a good deal not just for access to EU markets but around the world would be “complex and time-consuming matter”. So free trade deals are less about exporting UK food produce and more about importing a lot more cheap food.It is unclear yet as to the basis of the UK future trade deals with the rest of the world. We have to extricate ourselves from the EU first, and then find out what the terms of our membership with the WTO are before making any deal. Once out of the EU will have to apply for WTO membership...UK Parliament Inquiry: Brexit: Trade In Food Gove & Eustice session (Impact assessments 10.30-35, CAP 10.35-40, Standards 10.40-50, Information 10.50, Standards 11.00 Irish Border 11.05 - Wales, Full Alignment 11.20, Canada +++ 11.25, all sectors treated same? 11.30, Tariffs? 11.35-11.44, Fish transition 11.45-11.59 inc. no trade barriers during transition 11.56, Labeling 11.59-01. Standards & Residues 12.00-04CBI says that UK will not be able to ‘roll-over’ Britain’s forty existing free trade deals with non-EU countries in time for Brexit day – and argue a failure to secure the deals could “wipe out” entire sectors of the UK economy.Agri-Food & Bioscience institute year long report: Post Brexit possible agricultural Trade Deals