Written Question
Tuesday 21st April 2020
Asked by:
Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question
to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the level of regulatory divergence on goods between the UK and Australia; and what steps she is taking to ensure that goods produced under systems with lower levels of environmental regulation are not imported into the UK.
Answered by Greg Hands
We continue to consider Australian regulations and engage with our Australian counterparts to build a shared understanding of our countries’ approaches and ambitions for our future bilateral trade relationship. In line with our international obligations, the Government will continue to ensure a high level of protection of the environment in new trade agreements. The Government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections and has made clear that we will not compromise on these.
Written Question
Tuesday 21st April 2020
Asked by:
Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question
to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential effectiveness of alternative investor protection provisions in relation to a free trade agreement between the UK and Australia.
Answered by Greg Hands
This Government is keen to ensure that UK investors overseas benefit from strong protections against discriminatory or unfair treatment from a host state. The precise details of any future UK Free Trade Agreement with Australia are a matter for formal negotiations, and we would not seek to pre-empt these discussions.
Written Question
Tuesday 21st April 2020
Asked by:
Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question
to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the implications for (a) her policy on investor-state dispute settlement in a future UK-Australia trade agreement and (b) the Government's climate change objectives of the recent use of that dispute settlement by energy companies overseas.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government is clear that our future investment policy will continue to protect our right to regulate in the public interest, including to meet our climate change and environmental objectives. There is yet to be a successful investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) claim against the UK, nor has the threat of potential disputes affected the government’s legislative programme.
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 11 Mar 2020
Trade Deals and Fair Trade
"I beg to move,
That this House has considered trade deals and fair trade.
It is a great pleasure to move the motion during Fairtrade fortnight. The debate is about how to hardwire the ethics of fair trade into future trade deals as we break out of Europe. I stand …..."Geraint Davies - View Speech
View all Geraint Davies (Ind - Swansea West) contributions to the debate on: Trade Deals and Fair Trade
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 11 Mar 2020
Trade Deals and Fair Trade
"Yes, that is crucial. There has been some ambiguity over whether we will continue with the European convention on human rights. Ministers have simply said, “We’re still in it,” when questioned. They have not ruled out leaving it, and that is of great concern. If we, as a country, decide …..."Geraint Davies - View Speech
View all Geraint Davies (Ind - Swansea West) contributions to the debate on: Trade Deals and Fair Trade
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 11 Mar 2020
Trade Deals and Fair Trade
"That point is very well made. This is a critical time, during which DFID needs to be closely engaged in the whole issue of negotiating trade deals. It is helpful for DFID to be separate from the Department for International Trade. We do not want DFID to be absorbed, eliminated, …..."Geraint Davies - View Speech
View all Geraint Davies (Ind - Swansea West) contributions to the debate on: Trade Deals and Fair Trade
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 11 Mar 2020
Trade Deals and Fair Trade
"Thank you very much, Mr Stringer, and I thank my hon. Friend very much for her intervention. I agree with the points that she made, because in a mature and open democracy such as ours we do not want to have trade deals done in secret, and then find out …..."Geraint Davies - View Speech
View all Geraint Davies (Ind - Swansea West) contributions to the debate on: Trade Deals and Fair Trade
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 11 Mar 2020
Trade Deals and Fair Trade
"I am following the hon. Gentleman’s speech closely, and I agree with what he is saying. Does he agree that it is imperative that the UK stands up for dispute resolution mechanisms that include social and environmental matters and other areas beyond investment, as a precedent for when the EU—and …..."Geraint Davies - View Speech
View all Geraint Davies (Ind - Swansea West) contributions to the debate on: Trade Deals and Fair Trade
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 11 Mar 2020
Trade Deals and Fair Trade
"The Minister mentioned the good work of DFID in promoting fairness. Will he confirm, or press the Government to ensure, that DFID’s work continues and that it is integral to trade negotiations? There is some concern that the Department for International Trade is working in isolation and in the interests …..."Geraint Davies - View Speech
View all Geraint Davies (Ind - Swansea West) contributions to the debate on: Trade Deals and Fair Trade
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 11 Mar 2020
Trade Deals and Fair Trade
"The Minister will know that the history of investor-state dispute mechanisms is basically about protecting investors who invested in countries without established systems of law and protection for investors. These days, we need a system in which people can invest in the knowledge that the host nation will also protect …..."Geraint Davies - View Speech
View all Geraint Davies (Ind - Swansea West) contributions to the debate on: Trade Deals and Fair Trade