Thank you for contacting me about trade negotiations with India.
A UK-India FTA would be a substantial opportunity for both of our economies and a significant moment in our bilateral relationship, which ministers across Government are working hard to strengthen in the decade ahead. I am encouraged that trade negotiations are underway, with the fifth round of talks concluding on 29 July 2022.
The Government has been clear that maintaining the UK’s high standards is a red line in all its trade negotiations. There will be no compromise on environmental protection, animal welfare or food standards, and the UK's agreement with India will include safeguards for our agriculture industry. These are Conservative Party manifesto commitments and have my full support.
This also includes not compromising on standards concerning pesticides. Ministers are clear that all future trade agreements, including a UK-India FTA, will respect the UK's regulatory autonomy. Decisions on standards, including on pesticides, will remain a matter for the UK Government and the devolved administrations. Pesticides that carry unacceptable risks to people or the environment will not be authorised.
Section 42 of the Agriculture Act 2020 establishes the duty for the Secretary of State for International Trade to report to Parliament on whether, or to what extent, measures in new free trade agreements are consistent with maintaining UK levels of statutory protection in relation to human, animal or plant life or health, animal welfare and the environment.
An independent Trade and Agriculture Commission has also been established and placed on a statutory footing by the Trade Act 2021. The Commission works to scrutinise free trade agreements and report on how they are consistent with UK law on animal welfare, the environment, and animal and plant health.