Cane Sugar: Import Duties

(asked on 28th August 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure that the 260,000 tonnes Autonomous Tariff Quota for raw cane sugar included in the Government's UK Global Tariff scheme does not have an adverse effect on the UK's commitment to (a) environmental protection, (b) animal welfare and (c) food standards in trade policy.


Answered by
Greg Hands Portrait
Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This question was answered on 8th September 2020

The Government has sought a balance between the interests of domestic production and processing, and developing country preferences.

To achieve this balance, the UK Global Tariff (UKGT) retains tariffs on sugar products, while opening a new Autonomous Tariff Quota (ATQ) of 260,000 tonnes that will apply from 1 January 2021, for 12 months, with an in-quota rate of 0.00%. We always committed to reviewing this ATQ and we will do so in due course.

We are proud of the high food safety and animal welfare standards that underpin our high-quality Great British products. We have no intention of undermining our own reputation for quality by lowering our food and animal welfare standards. Existing UK import standards will still apply – the level of tariff applied does not change what can and can not be imported. We have been clear that we will remain committed to high standards.

Reticulating Splines