Trade Agreements Environmental Protections 2024-03-07
2024-03-07
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about ensuring that future trade deals include environmental safeguards.
What steps she is taking to ensure future trade agreements include environmental protections?
The Government are committed to pursuing environmental provisions in our trade agreements and to using our multilateral trade policy, diplomatic efforts and trade promotion activity, all of which support our green objectives.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps being taken were not detailed, only a commitment was provided without concrete actions or mechanisms.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is questioning whether existing trade agreements have improved or degraded environmental standards and what lessons can be learned for future negotiations.
Will the Minister tell the House whether the deals secured so far have improved or degraded our environment? What lessons have been learned for negotiating future deals?
The hon. Gentleman raises an interesting point. Many of the agreements have actually, for the first time, included environmental provisions. If I recall correctly, he did not like the Australia trade deal, but it is the first time Australia has committed in a trade agreement to the Paris agreement and so on. When it comes to the impact of our trading policy over the last 14 years, he will also find, for example, that 86% of UK imports of palm oil—a key interest for environmentalists—are certified as sustainable, up from 16% in 2010. Again, we are seeing real results of UK trade policy moving in a much more environmentally friendly direction.
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Assessment & feedback
The impact analysis was not provided; instead, the answer focused on past achievements and commitments without addressing whether these deals have improved or degraded the environment.
Response accuracy