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Free Trade Agreements: Cameroon and Ghana

09 June 2021

Lead MP

Sarah Olney

Debate Type

Adjournment Debate

Tags

EconomyBrexitBusiness & TradeParliamentary Procedure
Other Contributors: 1

At a Glance

Sarah Olney raised concerns about free trade agreements: cameroon and ghana in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

How the Debate Unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:

Lead Contributor

Opened the debate
Thank you very much for granting this debate, Mr Deputy Speaker. While the UK-Australia trade deal has been getting a great deal of attention recently, I am grateful for this opportunity to debate the UK’s agreements with Cameroon and Ghana. I wish to raise the opportunities that the Minister and his Department have missed and the distressing lack of ambition that has been shown in these deals. Throughout the passage of the Trade Act 2021, I and many other Members across the House raised our concerns about the lack of parliamentary scrutiny of trade deals. That is just as true of these roll-over deals as it is of the brand new free trade agreements. In fact, calling these deals “roll-over deals” is somewhat misleading. While they have received very little public or parliamentary attention, they are of huge importance for Ghanaian and Cameroonian partners. The original EU deals on which these deals are based included mechanisms for ongoing parliamentary dialogue between the EU Parliament and their Ghanaian and Cameroonian counterparts... (full speech continues highlighting issues such as lack of scrutiny, undermining regional trade, imposition of tariffs, support needed during implementation, missing impact assessments, environmental provisions, human rights concerns, rendez-vous clauses, and concluding with a call to shape future global trading system positively).

Government Response

EconomyBrexitBusiness & TradeParliamentary Procedure
Government Response
Order. We heard the contributions from the Opposition side in absolute silence. I now want to listen to the Minister’s response with the same courtesy. My thanks to the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Sarah Olney) for securing this debate, and I thank other right hon. and hon. Members for taking part. We all know that trade is a key driver of economic growth that can trigger positive changes in a country’s economy. It helps to raise incomes, create jobs and lift people out of poverty... (response continues addressing human rights concerns, emphasising the UK's relationship with Cameroon, discussing the agreement with Ghana, highlighting the importance of avoiding gaps in trading terms, and concluding by praising the rapid conclusion of negotiations)... The debate was obtained by the hon. Member for Richmond Park, and I do not think we need chuntering from the Opposition Front Bench, let alone so loud or rude.
Assessment & feedback
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