Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made on the roll-over of agreements with (a) Ghana, (b) Côte D’Ivoire and (c) Kenya.
Answered by George Hollingbery
As the UK leaves the EU, we seek to replicate the effects of seven EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, including agreements with Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. We are working with partners to conclude and implement agreements from 29 March 2019 or as soon as possible thereafter in the event of a “no deal” exit.
The UK continues to support the implementation of the EU’s EPA with the East Africa Community (EAC). As and when EAC partners find a way to agree to sign the EPA, the UK will seek to replicate this agreement.
The Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Act enables the UK to put in place a UK trade preferences scheme for developing countries. Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Kenya will be eligible for tariff reductions on two-thirds of products under this scheme.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on developing (a) countries and (b) sectors on roll-over agreements not being signed by 29 March 2019.
Answered by George Hollingbery
As the UK exits the EU, we aim to replicate the effects of the EU’s Association Agreements and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) in order to avoid trade disruption for developing countries.
EPAs are development-focused trade agreements with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries which aim to promote increased trade and investment by putting our trading relationship on a more equitable, mature and business-like footing, supporting sustainable growth and poverty reduction. It is in both our interests, and the interests of businesses and consumers, that we continue to trade on the same basis as we do now after the UK leaves the EU. We have already signed an agreement with the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) countries to ensure continuity. The Government is working to mitigate the risks, including economic, if trade is disrupted by the absence of an agreement or a gap in coverage.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when he plans to publish the text of the continuity agreements with (a) Chile and (b) the Eastern and Southern Africa group; and what the process will be for the (i) debate and (ii) ratification of those agreements.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The Government laid in Parliament continuity agreements with Chile and Eastern and Southern Africa states on 6 February 2019 with an accompanying explanatory memorandum for each as part of the UK’s established treaty ratification process – as set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. These agreements will be ratified by this process as they are now. These are not new free trade agreements with countries that the UK is not already party to by virtue of our EU membership.
The Government also published a report to explain any significant changes to the trade-related provisions made.
These documents are available on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to safeguard the preferential access afforded to developing countries in sensitive sectors in the event that the UK is required to apply tariffs on leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by George Hollingbery
As the UK leaves the EU the Government is seeking continuity of trade arrangements, which will continue to provide valuable access to the UK market for developing countries. The Government is creating a unilateral trade preference scheme which will provide the same level of market access as currently provided through the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences, through powers in the Taxation (Cross-border trade) Act. It also remains the Government’s intention to seek to replicate the effects of seven development-focussed EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
On 31 January 2019, Minister Hollingbery signed the UK-Eastern and Southern Africa EPA. This continuity agreement will allow continued tariff-free imports from Eastern and Southern Africa, providing continuity for businesses, exporters and consumers.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade whether he plans to consult publicly on the inclusion of investor protection clauses and (b) other investment provisions in trade agreements that he seeks to transpose with (i) Canada, (ii) Japan and (iii) other countries with which the EU has yet to ratify an agreement.
Answered by George Hollingbery
This Government is engaged in a technical exercise to replicate as far as possible the effects of current EU trade agreements. We are working with our Canadian partners to transition investment provisions and ensure they work in the context of our bilateral relationship. The EU-Japan EPA does not include investment protection provisions and has already been voted on in Parliament, and will come into force on the 1st February.
The Department engages widely with businesses, civil society, and other stakeholders, and will continue to do so as it works with partners to seek continuity in current trade relationships.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether he plans to seek the inclusion of investor protection clauses in trade agreements that he transposes with (a) Canada and (b) Japan.
Answered by George Hollingbery
This Government is engaged in a technical exercise to replicate as far as possible the effects of current EU trade agreements. We are working with our Canadian partners to transition investment provisions and ensure they work in the context of our bilateral relationship. The EU-Japan EPA does not include investment protection provisions and has already been voted on in Parliament, and will come into force on the 1st February.
The Department engages widely with businesses, civil society, and other stakeholders, and will continue to do so as it works with partners to seek continuity in current trade relationships.