Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
What recent discussions she has had with UK trade partners on including clauses on human rights in future trade agreements.
Answered by Greg Hands
While our approach to negotiations will vary between partners, it will always allow HM Government to have open discussions on a range of important issues, including human rights. We have a strong history of safeguarding rights globally and will not compromise our high standards in trade agreements.
Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that UK businesses do not conduct business in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Answered by Conor Burns
The UK routinely updates our guidance to British businesses on the Overseas Business Risk website. This is voluntary guidance to British businesses. Ultimately it will be the decision of an individual or company whether to operate in occupied territories.
Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will make it her policy to exclude the import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories from future trade deals; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Conor Burns
The settlements are not covered by the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which currently governs our trade with Israel, nor by the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement, which will enter into force at the end of the Transition Period. We are committed to maintaining this position.
Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he has taken to help ensure (a) UK supermarkets and (b) Oxfam shops have continued access to imported Palestinian agricultural products.
Answered by Conor Burns
The UK Government is concerned about the impact of recent Israeli trade restrictions. UK businesses should be free to import Palestinian products without barriers. Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Israel raised this issue with the Government of Israel, most recently on 12 February. We welcome the agreement reached by the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, on 20 February, to lift their respective trade restrictions. We urge both sides to ensure the swift implementation of this agreement.
Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
What recent discussions she has had with her Brazilian counterpart on ensuring that UK-Brazil trade does not adversely affect the preservation of the Amazon rainforest.
Answered by Conor Burns
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to take question 8 and 12 together.
This Government is committed to protecting the world’s rainforests. During my recent visit to Brazil, I raised the UK’s commitment to environmental protection and offered support to Brazil in the transition to renewable energy and a lower carbon economy.
We are working in partnership with Brazil and through UK Government-led programmes, investing over £150 million of climate finance in forest programmes across the country.
I was delighted that on my return from Brazil in August, the PM announced an extra £10 million in the aftermath of recent fires.