Asked by: Earl of Sandwich (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to use free trade agreements as a means of furthering climate change objectives; and what examples they can provide of having done so in recently-concluded trade agreements, including rollover trade agreements.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
In our outline approaches to free trade agreements (FTAs) with the US, New Zealand, and Australia, we have committed to securing provisions that will help trade in low carbon goods and services, supporting innovation in sectors such as offshore wind, smart energy systems, low-carbon advisory services, and energy from waste. Our FTAs will also underpin international cooperation in research and development, and reaffirm the United Kingdom’s sovereign right to regulate in pursuit of net zero by 2050.
The recently concluded United Kingdom-EU trade agreement confirms both Parties’ commitments to key international climate agreements and includes other important commitments, such as promoting trade-related aspects of climate change policies in international fora. Our continuity FTAs have sought to replicate the effects of the EU’s agreements too, including provisions on climate change.
Asked by: Earl of Sandwich (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the prospects for UK trade with (1) Kosovo, and (2) Georgia; and what initiatives they have taken in those countries in the last financial year, especially in respect of small and medium-size enterprises.
Answered by Baroness Fairhead
A UK/US Kosovo Trade and Investment Forum was held in London on November 3rd 2016 and trade cooperation has steadily grown in line with Kosovo’s economy. We look forward to increasing cooperation with the newly formed government, and hope to rearrange the postponed trade mission to Kosovo as a follow-up to the Forum.
In September 2017 a Trade Envoy to Georgia was appointed. In October the UK-Georgia ‘Wardrop Dialogue’ was held in London, attended by a Georgian Ministerial delegation, where the development of trade relations was discussed. My Rt hon Friend the Minister of State for Trade Policy (Greg Hands) met the Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia as part of this.