Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Free Trade Agreement: United States

Thursday 8 October 2020 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • We are making good progress on a deal with the United States, having just completed round 4 of negotiations.
  • The UK is committed to the Good Friday agreement and will not have a hard border on the island of Ireland, which is progressing talks with the United States.
  • The Chancellor announced the creation of 10 new free ports across the UK by the end of 2021, including potential sites in Teesside.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Neale Hanvey
Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from ongoing negotiations between the UK and US for a new trade deal. The context is that these discussions are critical as they impact UK's post-Brexit economic strategy.

Question

What progress has been made in the Government's trade talks with the United States?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

We are making good progress on a deal with the United States. We have just finished round 4 of the negotiations and we are discussing detailed tariffs and texts. We will carry on working right up until 30 October, just before the presidential election.

Answered
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Q2 Craig Tracey Con
Business & Trade
Context

Following the initial question, this supplementary query focuses on ensuring bipartisan support in the US for a UK-US trade agreement post-election.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that it is important to continue working with both Republicans and Democrats to secure a comprehensive deal regardless of the election outcome?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

My hon. Friend is absolutely right—[Interruption.] The Opposition are laughing at our largest single country trading partner, because they frankly do not care about the jobs generated or about the opportunities from expanding our relationship with the US. We are in discussions with senior Republicans and senior Democrats to ensure that there is full support for a US-UK trade deal right across the United States political spectrum.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not provide specific information on current cross-party efforts or agreements but rather criticized opposition members.

How: Criticising The Opposition

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Q3 Neale Hanvey
Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

The concern is raised about how the UK's proposed legislation to override parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement may affect ongoing trade negotiations with the United States.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that US trade talks will be dead in the water if the UK Internal Market Bill passes, due to lack of Congressional support?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

We have been absolutely clear with all our trading partners and, indeed, with the EU that we are committed to the Good Friday agreement. We are committed to having no hard border on the island of Ireland, and on that basis we are progressing talks with the United States.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not address whether the bill would affect US trade negotiations but instead reaffirmed commitments to other agreements.

How: Changing Subject

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Q4 Bill Esterson Lab Sefton Central
Business & Trade
Context

The question addresses specific issues regarding the inclusion or exclusion of topics like digital services tax and hormone-treated beef in UK-US trade discussions.

Question

Can the Trade Secretary confirm that she told her US counterparts that dropping the digital services tax is contingent on them not insisting on market access for their hormone-injected beef?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

I would caution the hon. Gentleman that not absolutely everything published in The Mail on Sunday is the gospel truth. I hope that, over time, he learns that. Let us be clear that the digital services tax is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer in this country, not a matter for the trade talks, and that food safety regulations are a matter for the Food Standards Agency in this country, and not part of the trade talks.

Not addressed: The answerer did not confirm or deny if such an offer was made but instead dismissed the question with criticism.

How: Criticising Media Reports, Changing Subject

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Q5 Peter Gibson
Business & Trade
Context

The question focuses on the economic opportunities arising from establishing a free port near an existing aviation company, aiming to boost bilateral trade between the UK and the United States.

Question

What assessment has been made regarding the potential for a free trade corridor involving Teesside international airport and a proposed River Tees free port in terms of US-UK economic growth?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

I know that my hon. Friend is a staunch advocate of free ports, especially one in Teesside, and I know he will have been delighted by the announcement yesterday from the Chancellor that there will be 10 new free ports across the United Kingdom by the end of 2021, bringing more trade, more opportunities and more growth to areas right across the nation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not provide a specific assessment but instead referred to a general announcement about free ports.

How: Changing Subject

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