International Trade Committee to question Anne-Marie Trevelyan

22 October 2021

In the first of two sessions on Wednesday 27 October, the International Trade Committee will quiz the newly appointed Secretary of State, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, on the Government’s ambitions for utilising COP26 to realise its trade ambitions.

Likely areas of questioning

MPs are likely to use the hearing, which begins at 10am, to discuss how the Government plans to bring together its objectives for the COP26 summit and its trade policies. The session comes after the Committee heard from experts and civil society in September, and follows a letter sent to the Secretary of State on its recommendations following that session.

From 3.30pm, the Committee will take evidence from Ministers on upholding food standards in UK trade negotiations.

MPs are likely to ask questions about the Government’s response to the Trade and Agriculture Commission and National Food Strategy reports. Topics that may be covered include the role of the new Trade and Agriculture Commission in the scrutiny of new trade agreements, the possible impact of the forthcoming Australian and New Zealand trade deals on food production standards, and how the UK’s food standards will be maintained in future trade deal negotiations.

The session follows evidence heard in September from the National Food Strategy review lead, Henry Dimbleby.

COP26 and international trade

Wednesday 27 October 2021

At 10.00am:

Rt. Hon. Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Secretary of State for International Trade, Department for International Trade

UK trade negotiations

From 3.30pm:

Rt. Hon. Penny Mordaunt MP, Minister for Trade Policy, Department for International Trade
Victoria Prentis MP, Minister for Pacific and the Environment, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Chris Heaton, Deputy Director for International Trade Policy, Defra
Oliver Phillips, Senior Civil Service Lead for Agriculture, Department for International Trade

Further information

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