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Written Question
Human Rights: Cambodia
Thursday 11th February 2021

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what joint work they are undertaking with the EU into the human rights situation in Cambodia; what assessment they have made of the EU’s partial withdrawal of trade privileges under the “Anything But Arms” trade arrangements due to human rights abuses and the undermining of democracy in that country; whether they plan to make any similar amendments to their trade arrangements with Cambodia; and if not, why not.

Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

The United Kingdom has concerns about human rights in Cambodia and continues to raise these with the Cambodian government at every opportunity. For example, when explaining the UK’s approach on trade preferences to Cambodia, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Cambodia expressed our concerns about the human rights situation to Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister in December 2020.

We continue to monitor the situation in Cambodia and consider if it is appropriate to suspend preferences in line with the provisions of our Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) scheme, taking into account the human rights situation as well as the economic impact of COVID-19 and the impact on vulnerable people, including female garment factory workers.


Written Question
EU External Trade: Commonwealth
Tuesday 2nd January 2018

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the intra-country trade in the EU that originates in developing Commonwealth countries and first enters the EU via the UK.

Answered by Baroness Fairhead

The UK's total trade with developing Commonwealth countries (imports and exports of goods and services with countries that receive preferential access through the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, Economic Partnership Agreements or the Market Access Regulation) was over £42 billion in 2015. This statistic measures trade on a balance of payments basis but we are aware that goods and services from developing Commonwealth countries can constitute intermediate inputs into items traded within the EU. This is why we are working with developing country partners to replicate the effects of existing trade arrangements as we leave the EU.


Written Question
Overseas Trade: Commonwealth
Tuesday 2nd January 2018

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the scale of the potential impact of the application of most favoured nation tariffs on developing Commonwealth countries.

Answered by Baroness Fairhead

Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rates are the highest import tariff rates WTO members can charge one another unless part of a preferential trade agreement. 43 out of 52 Commonwealth members benefit from preferential access to the UK through EU trade arrangements designed to support developing counties. This preferential access is vital to support economic development in the recipient countries and provide benefits to businesses in the UK. This is why, as the Government set out in the trade White Paper, we have introduced legislation to establish a UK trade preferences scheme as we leave the EU. We propose that this will, as a minimum, provide the same level of access as the current EU trade preference scheme. We will also seek to replicate effects of the EU’s Economic Partnership Agreements, which are development-focused trade deals with Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries.


Written Question
Overseas Trade: Commonwealth
Tuesday 2nd January 2018

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the size of any increase in trade with Commonwealth countries in the event that the UK leaves the EU.

Answered by Baroness Fairhead

The UK leaving the European Union will affect trade with partner countries differently, including members of the Commonwealth. The size of the impact will depend upon a range of factors, including the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

43 out of 52 Commonwealth members currently benefit from preferential access to the UK, either through the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, Economic Partnership Agreements or Market Access Regulations. This preferential access supports economic development in the recipient countries and provides benefits to businesses in the UK.

The Government is committed to providing continuity in the UK’s current trade and investment relationships, including those covered by EU Free Trade Agreements and other EU preferential arrangements. As set out in the Trade White Paper, it has introduced legislation to establish a UK trade preferences scheme, which will help developing countries.

The UK will seek to strengthen its trade and investment relationships with partners across the world, including Commonwealth members. We are already conducting regular Ministerial dialogues with a wide range of markets and also a joint review of the UK-India trade relationship, in partnership with the Government of India.


Written Question
Overseas Trade: Commonwealth
Tuesday 2nd January 2018

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the analysis by the Trade Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Trade Implications of Brexit for Developing Countries.

Answered by Baroness Fairhead

We were pleased to receive contributions from stakeholders and are considering them fully, including this Commonwealth Secretariat paper.

Our first priority is to deliver continuity in our trading arrangements on leaving the EU. On leaving the EU the UK government will also explore options to expand on relationships with developing countries.

We take every opportunity to advance discussions with Commonwealth partners, for example at the recent World Trade Organisation 11th Ministerial Conference. The Commonwealth Summit in April 2018 will be the largest leaders' summit the UK has ever hosted, with 52 Heads of State and thousands of businesses in attendance. The Prime Minister has identified trade as one of her top priorities for the Summit.