Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Northern Ireland protocol has been referenced in discussions between UK and US Government ministers and officials on the prospect of the exemption of UK steel companies from section 232 tariffs.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The Northern Ireland Protocol and Section 232 tariffs are two entirely separate issues. We do not see any connection between these particular issues and will not perpetuate such false narratives.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on tariff free access for UK-produced steel to the European market.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has worked successfully with the European Commission to secure country-specific allocations for some steel products within the Tariff Rate Quotas (by which the EU imposes its steel safeguard measures) to enable UK companies to trade tariff-free into the EU. These tariff-free allocations came into operation on 1 January 2021.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she plans to review the trade preferences which initially qualify under the new Enhanced Framework to ensure that the Government offers preferential trading arrangements only to countries that comply with their obligations under international human rights law.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
Countries currently in the European Union’s GSP+ tier will receive the same level of market access to the United Kingdom under our Enhanced Framework from 1st January 2021.
Receipt of trade preferences under our Enhanced Framework will be subject to conditions, similar to those under the EU’s GSP+. These include ratifying and effectively implementing the same 27 conventions and complying with those conventions’ reporting and monitoring requirements.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government plans to replace the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences in its trade negotiations with Sri Lanka with provisions to incentivise good governance and the adherence to international human rights obligations.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The United Kingdom is replicating the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), which will enter into force on 1st January 2021.
The scheme will include an arrangement that replicates the EU’s GSP+ tier, called the “Enhanced Framework”, and Sri Lanka will automatically be granted trade preferences under this.
The “Enhanced Framework” will continue to be subject to conditions, similar to those under the EU’s GSP+, for all beneficiaries. These include ratifying and effectively implementing the same international conventions and complying with those conventions’ reporting and monitoring requirements.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the Sri Lankan Government’s announcement of 27 February 2020 that it would withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council resolution 30/1, whether she has raised human rights during the current trade negotiations with the Sri Lankan Government.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
Sri Lanka is a valuable trading partner for Britain. Whilst HM Government has not yet undertaken any formal trade negotiations with Sri Lanka, both countries have expressed a mutual commitment to identifying and reducing barriers to trade, and are actively seeking ways to further enhance our trading relationship.
HM Government has raised rights and responsibilities with the Government of Sri Lanka, as part of wide-ranging discussions between the Foreign Secretary and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the Government stating that it intends to exempt steel produced in the EU from the UK’s safeguard measures in order to achieve reciprocal arrangements for UK-produced steel sold in the EU.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The Government’s priority is to ensure that, at the end of the transition period, domestic industry retains appropriate trade remedy protections. The Department for International Trade continues to seek to engage with the European Commission on the mutual application of steel safeguard measures, with the aim of preserving traditional trade flows and providing as much continuity to industry as possible at the end of the transition period.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what representations he is making to the European Commission on quotas for UK steel exports into the EU in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by George Hollingbery
I refer the Member for Aberavon to the answer I gave on 25 February 2019 to Question UIN 221544.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what representations he is making to the European Commission on quotas for UK steel exports into the EU, in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by George Hollingbery
I refer the Member for Aberavon to the answer I gave on 25 February 2019 to Question UIN 221544.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made in obtaining assurances that the UK will be able to replicate the 40 free trade agreements that the EU has with third party countries during the transition period.
Answered by George Hollingbery
Alongside the Withdrawal Agreement, the EU undertook to notify its treaty partners that the UK is treated as a Member State for the purposes of EU international agreements during the IP. This includes trade agreements. This notification is expected to issue following signature of the Withdrawal Agreement.
Discussions with all partner countries have demonstrated a commitment to finding a pragmatic way to ensure continuity of our existing international agreements. A number of countries have already publicly welcomed this approach (Library deposit of 13 September DEP2018-0926 provides a list of countries). Others are, understandably, waiting for the notification to be issued before responding formally. We are working closely with our trading partners to ensure that there would be no disruption to trade as we move into the Implementation Period. Alongside this, the government will continue to do the responsible thing and prepare for all eventualities with partner countries, including a ‘no deal’ Brexit scenario.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on (a) export figures and (b) employment figures in the UK steel industry should he fail to replicate the 40 free trade agreements that the EU currently has with third party countries during the transition period.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The Government is seeking continuity for existing EU trade agreements in which the UK participates as a member of the EU. In the year to Q3 2018, these constituted around 11% of our trade.
The Government has been in extensive and constructive discussions with partner countries to transition these agreements to maintain their benefits and deliver as much continuity and stability as possible for businesses, consumers and investors as we leave the EU.
Sector level impacts of not transitioning individual agreements have not been calculated.