The UK Government has set its sights on joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans Pacific Partnership in 2023. This pacific trade deal is one of the world’s largest Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with eleven member countries, including a number of major agricultural producers such as Canada and Mexico. Having been conceived and designed by the US Government (which eventually decided not to join the deal), CPTPP is a US trade deal in all but name.
The deal could:
- introduce food imports containing pesticides that are currently banned from appearing in UK food for health reasons
- see more food imports from countries that use high levels of antibiotics or use them as growth promoters
- undermine UK agriculture by handing producers in CPTPP countries a competitive advantage
On trade, Sustain is calling for a trade strategy, proper parliamentary scrutiny and core food and farming standards, including on antibiotics and pesticides.

UK accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
5pp - 2023 | 157Kb
Published 29 Mar 2023
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.