House of Commons Papers

The liberalisation of trade in agricultural products regulated through the World Trade Organisation is having a profound effect on the UK agricultural industry and on EU agricultural policy. The Committee believes that the WTO should not be transformed into a universal reform league if that puts at risk its ability to sustain its primary purpose as a rules based regulator of world trade agreements. The best way to assist small farms in the UK which find themselves under threat is through reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and a gradual shift away from distorting production subsidies to a policy based on clear objectives for environmental protection and rural development.