Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Free Trade Agreement Negotiations: Business Engagement

Thursday 3 September 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department engages with SMEs through direct contact and organisations like the Federation of Small Businesses and the British Chambers of Commerce.
  • The Minister will announce new trade advisory groups including those consulting civil society and trade unions.
  • The strategic trade advisory group will include large business representative organisations and civil society groups.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jamie Wallis Con Bridgend
Business & Trade
Context

In Bridgend, the Ford factory is set to close and Ineos may not provide investment, making small and medium-sized enterprises increasingly important.

Question

What steps is her Department taking to engage with SMEs in particular to find out what they need as we negotiate free trade agreements with the rest of the world?

Answer from The Secretary of State for International Trade Elizabeth Truss

We have engaged with SMEs directly, and we are also working through organisations such as the Federation of Small Businesses and the British Chambers of Commerce. Dedicated SME chapters will be negotiated in agreements with the US, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

Answered
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Q2 Emily Thornberry Lab Coventry North West
Business & Trade
Context

Concern about lack of representation from trade unions, consumer groups and NGOs in newly appointed trade advisory groups.

Question

May I ask her a simple, factual question: of the 162 individuals that she announced last week will be members of her new trade advisory groups, will she tell us how many of them represent trade unions, consumer groups or non-governmental organisations?

Answer from The Secretary of State for International Trade Elizabeth Truss

We will shortly be announcing new groups including the strategic trade advisory group and groups consulting civil society and the trade unions. We have already had meetings with environmental groups and trade unions.

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Q3 Emily Thornberry Lab Coventry North West
Business & Trade
Context

Concern about exclusion of CBI and trade unions, consumer groups and NGOs from newly appointed trade advisory groups.

Question

Why do those groups really not merit being part of the trade advisory group, because of the 162 advisers that she has appointed, there is not a single person from a union, a consumer group or an NGO? Will the Secretary State tell us why the CBI has been totally excluded?

Answer from The Secretary of State for International Trade Elizabeth Truss

We are reformulating the new strategic advisory group, which will contain some large business representative organisations alongside civil society groups. We have also consulted with trade unions, environmental groups and CBI on broader strategy. These groups will be announced in due course.

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