To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, given the concern in the local farming community around global competition, what work his Department is undertaking to prevent Northern Irish farmers being undercut by farmers from the United States of America and elsewhere.

I am aware that countries with which the UK is negotiating FTAs, i.e. the US, Australia and New Zealand are major agricultural exporters. I have been clear that tariff protection, particularly for sensitive agricultural products, including those where we have a significant production interest must be maintained. Furthermore, I have also been clear that there must be no diminution of standards for food imports and that the standards applying in GB should be no lower than those which must apply in Northern Ireland under the NI Protocol. I have written to the Defra Secretary of State on these matters and will continue to make further representations to avoid Northern Ireland farmers being disadvantaged.

I am pleased that the UK Global Tariff which will apply to imports from all countries which do not have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the UK maintains agricultural tariffs at similar levels to present for most products.