Trade Policy Advisory Group meeting: 17 March 2022

• Aileen Burmeister, FairTrade Wales
• Catherine Smith, Hybu Cig Cymru
• Debbie Laubach, MediWales
• Henry Clarke, RPD Law
• Jerry Lawson, Frog Bikes
• Louisa Petchey, Public Health Wales
• Nick Pearce, Object Matrix
• Prof. Nick Pidgeon, Cardiff University
• Paul O’Donnell, Institute of Export and International Trade
• Richard Leonard, Welsh Automotive Forum

Welsh Government’s Head of Trade Policy welcomed everyone to the meeting and invited members to introduce themselves and state the organisation they represented.

Welsh Government’s Head of Trade Policy provided an update on the UK government’s Free Trade Agreement “FTA” negotiations including Australia, New Zealand, CPTPP, Canada, India and Greenland.

A round table discussion followed focusing on the UK government’s negotiations with India split into 3 topics:

• Exporting and importing
• Climate change and public health
• Equality and human rights

The discussions covered:

Exporting and importing: opportunities and barriers

• Influence of the Ukraine/Russia conflict on negotiations.
• Reduction in tariffs.
• Importance of a level playing field for Welsh businesses and sectors 
• Opportunity for dairy and red meat – including high-end food market for Welsh lamb.
• Opportunity for Welsh manufacturers in the electric vehicle market.
• Recognition and acceptance of professional qualifications.
• Existing technical challenges such as different rules and regulations within different states of India.
• Conformity assessments/mutual recognition.
• Importance of intellectual property – including Welsh lamb; need to consider approach to intellectual property in areas such as seeds and generic drugs and vaccines.

Climate change and public health

• How to balance Wales being a globally responsible nation against exporting opportunities? Future generations and wellbeing goals.
• The importance of intellectual property for opportunities for bio economy & hydrogen production.
• Environmental Tariffs; dispute resolution and environment targets.
• Public health – access to research; recruitment of healthcare professionals; impact on local work; health impact assessments and stakeholder engagement. 

Equality and human rights

• Labour standards.
• Opportunities for businesses to drive standards in relation to women empowerment, climate change, labour standards.