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Written Question
Trade Agreements: China
Monday 13th July 2020

Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports of possible human rights, modern slavery, and security concerns relating to exports from China, what plans they have to establish a trade agreement with the government of China; what sectors any such agreement would cover; and what assessment they have made of whether any such agreement would meet the Government's environmental, food, and animal welfare standards.

Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

HM Government is clear that trade does not have to come at the expense of our values.

Our focus at the current time is negotiating Free Trade Agreements with the United States of America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand; alongside considering accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

We do not currently have plans to negotiate a free trade agreement with China.

China is – and remains – an important trading partner for the United Kingdom.


Written Question
Department for International Trade: Disclosure of Information
Tuesday 23rd June 2020

Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) personal confidentiality agreements, and (2) non-disclosure agreements the Department for International Trade has signed with (a) businesses, (b) individuals, and (c) third parties advising, the department on its response to COVID 19.

Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

The Department for International Trade has not signed any personal confidentiality agreements, nor non-disclosure agreements with businesses, individuals nor third parties advising HM Government on its response to COVID-19.


Written Question
Trade Agreements: Civil Servants
Tuesday 23rd June 2020

Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many civil servants in the Department for International Trade are dedicated to trade negotiations with (1) the United States, (2) Japan, and (3) Australia. [T]

Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

The Department for International Trade’s Trade Policy Group (TPG) has a strong core of trade policy officials which has significantly grown from 45 to 723 (excluding the Export Control Joint Unit and Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate) since 2016. In TPG, we have dedicated teams in charge of coordinating each of our new free trade agreement negotiations, including the US, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. We have 3 Chief Negotiators and 3 Deputy Chief Negotiators currently, as well as the Government’s Chief Trade Negotiation Advisor.

Trade negotiations will be progressed by teams of differing sizes depending on their complexity and the Department also works closely with experts in other Departments.


Written Question
World Economy: Coronavirus
Tuesday 26th May 2020

Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the aim expressed in OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy (CP 239) to deliver a “cleaner, more sustainable” world economy after the COVID-19 pandemic, what steps they are taking to achieve this aim through trade policy.

Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

HM Government intends to support Britain’s economy to become stronger, cleaner, and more resilient after this crisis. A clean and resilient economic recovery will boost exports and create employment in the low-carbon industries of the future, while ensuring we address the linked challenges of public health, climate change, and biodiversity. Our ambitious trade policy agenda can support these aims, by promoting trade in low-carbon goods and services through Free Trade Agreements and at the WTO. HM Government will also continue to lead work on the international economic recovery through our upcoming COP26 and G7 Presidencies.


Written Question
St Petersburg International Economic Forum
Monday 25th June 2018

Asked by: Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Fairhead on 30 April (HL Deb, cols 1840–2), which ministers attended the 2018 St Petersburg International Economic Forum; which UK companies that attended the event received financial support from the Government in the last 12 months; what recent proposals they have made to (1) NATO, (2) the EU, and (3) members of the Commonwealth, for additional economic sanctions against Russia; and what response they have received.

Answered by Baroness Fairhead

No UK Ministers attended the St Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2018; however, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Moscow was present to meet, offer advice and support British companies attending the Forum.

Some UK companies exporting to Russia have received support from UK Export Finance (UKEF) over the last twelve months; the Government continues to offer advice to UK businesses exporting to Russia and supports ongoing legitimate sanctions-compliant trade and investment in Russia.

UKEF does not comment on transactions before they are supported as this may harm the commercial interests of its customers; where support has been provided and the material is not sensitive, the information is published in UKEF’s Annual Report and Accounts: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-export-finance-annual-reports-and-accounts

The UK currently imposes sanctions on Russia through the EU; since 2014, the UK has had regular dialogue through the EU and with G7 partners on such measures.