Wednesday 19th October 4:30-5:30pm

Room N, Portcullis House

The UK government has made negotiating Free Trade Agreements a key priority of post-Brexit policy. Trade deals have the potential to drive progress on human rights, cementing commitments to international conventions and providing the tools for holding companies accountable for violating rights. Trade policy innovation is happening around the world, including in the US, where President Biden is pursuing a ‘worker-centred’ trade policy. In the meantime, the Department for International Trade has taken the position that “free trade agreements are not generally the most effective or targeted tool to advance human rights issues”.

However, at a time when UK trade negotiations are ongoing with a range of partners including the Gulf, India, Mexico, Israel and the CPTPP bloc, it is vital that the UK's approach to trade and human rights is thoroughly scrutinised. 

How might trade deals be used to uphold human rights? What is the risk of the UK current approach, given the current negotiations? Where is the UK at risk of falling behind?

On Wednesday 19th October from 4:30pm-5:30pm in Room N, Portcullis House, we will be joined by a panel of experts on human rights and trade to explore these issues in depth. The intention is to have a wide-ranging discussion with plenty of opportunity for questions and input from attendees.

Chair: Kenny MacAskill MP

Discussants:

• Nick Crook (Head of International, Unison)

• Mustafa Qadri (Chief Executive, Equidem)

• Dr Amrita Saha (Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies)

• Lord Purvis of Tweed 

Space in the room is limited, and therefore attendees are asked to RSVP to leo@tjm.og.uk so that we are able to manage the number of invitations that we send.

Wednesday 27th April 4-5pm

Room P, Portcullis House

As part of a broader foreign policy ‘tilt’ to the Asia-Pacific region, the UK signed its trade deal with Australia in December 2021. The deal has been the subject of criticism, however, with many pointing to Australia’s environmental record, its lower food and farming standards, inadequate scrutiny throughout negotiations, and the limited projected GDP benefits of a deal.

The Trade and Agriculture Commission, an independent body assessing free trade agreements and their impact on food and farming, published its advice on the Australia deal yesterday, which responded to these concerns. This event will be an important opportunity for law-makers and civil society organisations to scrutinise the findings of their report.

This event will be a chance for a discussion with experts in the field, with plenty of time for Q&A.

Please RSVP by emailing leo@tjm.org.uk.

Speakers:

• Nick von Westenholz, Director of Trade and Business Strategy, National Farmers Union
• Professor Lorand Bartels, Chair, Trade and Agriculture Commission (provisional, subject to TAC report publication)
• Orla Delargy, Head of Public Affairs, Sustain

Chaired by Kenny MacAskill MP