Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when she plans to conclude international trade agreements with (a) Turkey, (b) Canada and (c) Mexico.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The United Kingdom’s ambition is to sign continuity trade agreements with (a) Turkey; (b) Canada; and (c) Mexico by the end of the transition period to make sure that existing trade flows are protected, as far as possible. To this end, our trade negotiators have engaged in technical discussions, including on tariffs, rules of origin and regulatory matters.
Consistent with the approach taken for all previous continuity trade agreements, agreement texts will be shared publicly after they have been laid before Parliament. My Department organises regular meetings with industry to keep them as informed as possible on our progress in this important work.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans she has to share negotiating texts with parties who have signed non-disclosure agreements in respect of negotiations of international trade agreements with (a)Turkey, (b) Canada and (c) Mexico.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The United Kingdom’s ambition is to sign continuity trade agreements with (a) Turkey; (b) Canada; and (c) Mexico by the end of the transition period to make sure that existing trade flows are protected, as far as possible. To this end, our trade negotiators have engaged in technical discussions, including on tariffs, rules of origin and regulatory matters.
Consistent with the approach taken for all previous continuity trade agreements, agreement texts will be shared publicly after they have been laid before Parliament. My Department organises regular meetings with industry to keep them as informed as possible on our progress in this important work.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions her trade negotiators have had on tariff schedules, product conformity, rules of origin and other technical regulations with their counterparts in (a) Turkey, (b) Canada and (c) Mexico in relation to negotiating international trade agreements with those countries.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The United Kingdom’s ambition is to sign continuity trade agreements with (a) Turkey; (b) Canada; and (c) Mexico by the end of the transition period to make sure that existing trade flows are protected, as far as possible. To this end, our trade negotiators have engaged in technical discussions, including on tariffs, rules of origin and regulatory matters.
Consistent with the approach taken for all previous continuity trade agreements, agreement texts will be shared publicly after they have been laid before Parliament. My Department organises regular meetings with industry to keep them as informed as possible on our progress in this important work.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans she has to negotiate membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership; and what derogations from its treaties would she seek.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
Accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) could help Britain increase her trade and investment opportunities, diversify her trading links and supply chains, and secure her future place in the world at the centre of a modern network of Free Trade Agreements with dynamic economies.
HM Government continue to have discussions on CPTPP accession with member countries at official and ministerial level, as part of our preparatory engagement. In our engagement, we are clear that any final decision to join CPTPP will consider the progress of bilateral negotiations with member countries and whether accession will be in the British national interest.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress she has made on negotiating an international trade agreement with Vietnam; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The United Kingdom is committed to seeking trade continuity of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), once it enters into force on 1st August, by transitioning it into a bilateral agreement. HM Government are working closely with the Vietnamese Government on this.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the (a) political, (b) legal and (c) reputational risks of a difference in tariff controls between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Northern Ireland Protocol (the Protocol) clearly states that Northern Ireland is and remains part of the UK’s customs territory.
Businesses and consumers in Northern Ireland will be able to take advantage of the UK Global Tariff and any new trade agreements this government negotiates, like the rest of the UK.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the risk of smuggling from the EU if UK ports are not ready to carry out checks on imports after the transition period.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) already tackle smuggling and they will continue to do so through intelligence-led targeting. My Department continues working closely with HMRC to make sure that the United Kingdom’s trade policy will be effectively operationalised at the border after the transition period ends.
Border controls on controlled goods will continue regardless of whether imports come from the European Union or Rest of the World countries. To ensure compliance with new customs procedures and controls at the border after transition period ends, my Rt Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster recently announced a new infrastructure funding package that includes £470m to build the necessary infrastructure required.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the risk of legal challenge against the UK at the WTO as a result of the UK’s plans to phase in border checks on imports from the EU after the transition period.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government does not disclose the content of any legal advice. However, as set out in the staging of import controls announcement in June, and reiterated in the announcement of the Border Operating Model, the Government will have controls in place for controlled goods from January 2021 and all goods (both controlled and standard) in place from July 2021.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans she has to publish a negotiating mandate for an international trade agreement with (a) Turkey, (b) Mexico and (c) Canada.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The Continuity Trade Programme seeks to replicate, as far as possible, the effects of existing trade agreements in which the United Kingdom participates as a member of the EU.
The United Kingdom remains committed to ensuring continuity in our trading relationships with Turkey, Mexico and Canada beyond the end of the transition period. Consistent with the approach taken for all other continuity trade agreements to date, HM Government does not intend to publish negotiating mandates for the continuity discussions with these three countries.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when she will lay the instrument of accession to the Government Procurement Agreement; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The United Kingdom intends to deposit her Instrument of Accession to the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) with the WTO Director-General on 2nd December 2020. The GPA will then enter into force for the United Kingdom, as an independent party, on 1st January 2021.