Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Continuity Trade Agreements

Thursday 14 January 2021 · 4 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

  • Claire Coutinho inquired about progress in securing continuity trade agreements, to which the response was that agreements covering 63 countries plus the EU, amounting to 885 billion of UK trade, have been made.
  • Claire Coutinho praised the Secretary of State for securing the most ambitious digital free trade provisions globally, noting the digital economy's worth of 150 billion and its rapid growth.
  • Emily Thornberry questioned the lack of parliamentary scrutiny for the provisional trade agreement between the UK and Cameroon, despite its having been in force for 14 days.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Claire Coutinho Con East Surrey
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The MP inquired about the progress made in securing continuity trade agreements.

Question

What progress has been made in securing continuity trade agreements?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

We have agreed trade deals covering 63 countries plus the EU, accounting for £885 billion of UK trade. No other country has ever negotiated so many deals simultaneously.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Claire Coutinho Con East Surrey
Business & Trade
Context

The MP praised the Secretary of State for securing digital free trade agreements and asked about updating businesses on these provisions.

Question

I commend the Secretary of State for her work securing the most ambitious digital free trade provisions anywhere in the world. The digital economy is worth £150 billion to the UK economy, and it is growing five times faster than the rest of the economy. Could the Secretary of State outline the work that she is doing, to update businesses on these exciting new provisions, so that they can make the most of the new opportunities?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to point out that digital trade is vital, and the UK is a world leader in technology. Our Japan deal goes well beyond the EU-Japan deal in areas such as the free flow of data, the commitment to uphold the principles of net neutrality and the ban on data localisation. We are negotiating similar provisions with Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, and we are looking to accede to the CPTPP, which has a very strong digital and data chapter. We also have a trade advisory group involving leading figures from the tech industry so we can make sure we have the most up-to-date information when we are negotiating these deals.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Emily Thornberry Lab Islington South and Finsbury
Business & Trade Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The MP expressed concern over the lack of parliamentary scrutiny on a provisional UK-Cameroon trade agreement.

Question

It has now been 14 days since the provisional trade agreement between the UK and Cameroon entered into force, yet Parliament has still not even seen that agreement, let alone had the chance to examine, debate or approve it. While I fully understand the reasons for that, does the Secretary of State understand why Members of all parties believe that this episode just illustrates why—in fact, it is the latest illustration of why—scrutiny procedures need to be improved, which is the reason many will be voting for changes to them next Tuesday?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

I like to say that scrutiny starts at home, so I suggest the right hon. Lady starts with her colleague, the hon. Member for Harrow West (Gareth Thomas), who presided over the EU's signing of the CARIFORUM deal 13 years ago, which is still being provisionally applied. I am not quite sure why the right hon. Lady does not ask for a debate on that.

Not addressed: The need to improve scrutiny procedures

How: Challenging The Questioner'S Colleague

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q4 Emily Thornberry Lab Islington South and Finsbury
Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

The MP raised concerns about human rights issues related to a UK-Cameroon trade agreement.

Question

These are serious matters. Cameroon has become, in the last three years, one of the most abusive, repressive and murderous regimes in the world today. We all know that that did not stop the Secretary of State reaching a trade agreement with it, but we do not even know what, if anything, the trade agreement says on this issue. Again, does the Secretary of State understand why Members on all sides of this House believe that there is a need for new laws, next Tuesday, obliging the Government to take proper account of human rights when negotiating and ratifying new trade agreements?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

I had hoped that the right hon. Lady would have welcomed our announcement earlier this week on the action we are taking on forced labour in Xinjiang and making sure that Britain upholds its values when trading internationally. I would ask her to consider some of her previous actions, such as sharing a platform with Hamas and refusing to criticise Fidel Castro's abhorrent human rights abuses. It is a bit much being lectured by a Labour Member on human rights, given her past record.

Not addressed: The necessity of new laws regarding human rights in trade negotiations

How: Criticising The Questioner'S History

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)