Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the National Farmers Union on plans on potential tariffs on (a) grains, (b) eggs, (c) fruit and (d) vegetables and (e) other dairy products; and if she will make a statement.

The Secretary of State regularly meets the National Farmers Union (NFU) to discuss a range of issues. The Government is developing a new UK Most Favoured Nation tariff schedule which will enter into force on 1 January 2021.

The Department for International Trade launched a public consultation to inform the UK’s new independent global tariff policy on 6 February. The consultation will be open online for four weeks from 6 February, closing on 5 March, and all views will be considered before the Global Tariff Policy is finalised.

This is the first time in almost 50 years that the UK will be free to set its tariff rates on all imported goods. This consultation represents a unique and historic opportunity for every business, every person and every civil society group, in every part of the UK including the NFU, to have their say.