Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership 2023-09-14
2023-09-14
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK has signed the CPTPP accession protocol but needs to ratify it. The MP raises concerns about investor-state dispute settlement provisions allowing corporations to sue national governments.
I thank the Secretary of State for her response. The CPTPP contains ISDS provisions which allow corporations to sue national Governments through a secretive system if they consider that Government policies threaten their future profits. Will the Government consider negotiating a side letter with Canada, as they already have with New Zealand and Australia, to disapply the ISDS provisions in order to ensure the UK Government's right to regulate is not constrained by powerful investors and corporations?
We are now trying to ratify the protocol. The Government have always been clear that when we negotiate investment protection, we do so in a way that does not hinder our right to regulate in the public interest. We already have investment agreements containing ISDS provisions with seven of the 11 CPTPP countries and we have never received a successful claim from any investors.
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Assessment & feedback
Negotiating a side letter with Canada to disapply ISDS provisions was not addressed specifically
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK has signed the CPTPP accession protocol but needs to ratify it. The MP raises concerns about investor-state dispute settlement provisions allowing corporations to sue national governments.
The Government's programme allows corporations, through ISDS provisions, to sue national Governments if they consider that policies threaten their future profits. Will the Government negotiate a side letter with Canada to disapply these provisions in order to ensure the UK Government's right to regulate is not constrained?
We have passed the stage where we will be making any changes; we are now trying to ratify the protocol. The right hon Gentleman should be reassured: the Government have always been clear that when we negotiate investment protection, we do so in a way that does not hinder our right to regulate in the public interest.
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Assessment & feedback
Negotiating a side letter with Canada was not addressed specifically
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
The UK has signed the CPTPP accession protocol but needs to ratify it. The MP asks about plans to inform UK companies of opportunities under the agreement.
I congratulate my right hon Friend on the progress made with CPTPP. Can she outline what plans the Department has to make UK companies aware of the opportunities that the agreement opens up for them?
We would like to ensure people are aware of the opportunities from all our free trade agreements. Our export commission and support service in the Department for Business and Trade will carry out this task, and we will also be supporting MPs during International Trade Week to highlight these opportunities.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy