Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Digital Trade

Thursday 8 October 2020 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK has published its US negotiation objectives for digital trade, focusing on free data flow and high data protection standards.
  • American businesses processing UK citizens' data in the US would still have to abide by UK data laws under a trade agreement.
  • A trade agreement will not undermine the age-appropriate design code for social media in the UK.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Damian Collins Con
Business & Trade
Context

The progress and specifics of UK/US trade negotiations regarding digital trade are being questioned.

Question

What progress has been made in the UK/US trade negotiations on digital trade. I am concerned about ensuring that data protection standards remain high while allowing for free flow of data.

Answer from Greg Hands

The UK has published its US negotiation objectives, which outline our intention to include provisions that facilitate the free flow of data while ensuring that the UK's high standards of personal data protection are maintained. They include provisions to prevent unjustified data localisation requirements.

Answered
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Q2 Damian Collins Con
Business & Trade
Context

Concerns about how a potential US-UK trade deal might affect existing UK data protection standards and the 'age-appropriate design code' for social media are being raised.

Question

I thank the Minister for his answer. Will he confirm that under a trade agreement, American businesses processing UK citizens' data in America would still have to abide by UK data laws, and also that a trade agreement will do nothing to undermine the age-appropriate design code for social media?

Answer from Greg Hands

On the second point, nothing in any trade agreement would prevent us from legislating against online harms in this country. On the first point, the UK's trade policy seeks to maintain high levels of data protection by committing parties to legislate for the protection of the personal information of users of electronic commerce. That means that users of electronic commerce will have legal certainty over the protection of their personal information.

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