Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Human Rights Clauses: 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 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK has long promoted its values globally and engages in discussions on rights and responsibilities with trade partners.
  • Honorable member Margaret Greenwood was informed that existing agreements, like the one with Turkey, did not include human rights clauses but this does not indicate a lack of concern.
  • Liz Twist inquired about addressing Uyghurs' situation in any potential trade deal with China, to which the Minister expressed sympathy but noted no FTA is being negotiated with China.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kate Osborne Lab Jarrow and Gateshead East
Business & Trade
Context

The issue of including human rights clauses in new trade agreements has been a subject of discussion among UK trade partners. Recent concerns arise from the lack of such clauses in newly signed treaties despite ongoing human rights issues.

Question

What recent discussions have there been with UK trade partners on inserting clauses on human rights in future trade agreements?

Answer from Greg Hands

The United Kingdom has long promoted its values globally. We are clear that more trade does not have to come at the expense of our values. While our approach to agreements will vary between partners, it will always allow this Government to open discussions on issues, including on rights and responsibilities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific details about recent discussions and concrete human rights clauses in new trade agreements were not provided.

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Q2 Margaret Greenwood Lab
Business & Trade
Context

Successive UK Governments have believed that new trade agreements should contain clauses allowing suspension if human rights abuses occur. However, recent treaties with Turkey, Singapore, and Vietnam do not include such provisions.

Question

Following on from the Minister's response, successive UK Governments have believed in the principle that all new trade treaties should contain clauses allowing those treaties to be suspended if the other party engages in serious abuses of human rights. Why were no clauses included in treaties with Singapore, Vietnam and Turkey despite ongoing concerns about their records?

Answer from Greg Hands

The hon. Lady might be misunderstanding the nature of the continuity programme for rolling over existing agreements. I point out that, on Turkey, the underlying agreement dates from 1963, and there were no human rights clauses in that agreement, but that does not mean to say that we do not have a robust discussion with Turkey on human rights. The EU-Vietnam framework agreement was separate and was not necessary to achieve trade continuity, but again we have a good dialogue with Vietnam on human rights. The UK and Singapore have agreed a UK-Singapore political joint statement to reflect our close partnership. Once that is signed, it will be published on gov.uk.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific inclusion of suspension clauses for human rights abuses was not directly addressed.

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Q3 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Foreign Affairs
Context

The issue of the Uyghurs and China's treatment has been discussed extensively. There are concerns that a trade agreement with China could be seen as endorsing human rights abuses.

Question

We have spent much time talking about the fate of the Uyghurs and China's treatment of them. Does the Minister agree that this issue needs to be dealt with in any trade deal, to ensure that we are not endorsing such actions?

Answer from Greg Hands

I am extremely sympathetic to the hon. Lady's question. The Foreign Secretary delivered an extensive statement on this topic on Tuesday. Of course, the UK is not negotiating a free trade agreement with China. However, the Foreign Secretary announced on Tuesday a review of export controls, financial penalties for organisations not complying with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, strengthening the overseas business risk guidance and making sure that the Government have the information we need to exclude suppliers complicit in human rights violations in Xinjiang.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific agreement on a trade deal with China was not addressed directly.

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Q4 Kate Osborne Lab Jarrow and Gateshead East
Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

There are ongoing human rights concerns regarding Egypt's treatment of political opponents, religious minorities, LGBT community, and democratic freedoms. The question arises about the inclusion of human rights provisions in a rolled-over trade agreement.

Question

Why was it appropriate to roll over a trade agreement with Egypt, despite its human rights record, and why were no efforts made to strengthen human rights provisions?

Answer from Greg Hands

The continuity programme is all about rolling over the deals that are there. I do not believe that there was any diminution of human rights provisions in the agreement with Egypt, or certainly of the effect of those provisions. We have a regular dialogue with Egypt on these issues. There is an extremely difficult internal security situation in Egypt, which the hon. Lady will know has affected British nationals directly as well. It is careful to get that balance right in all our dialogues with countries such as Egypt.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific human rights provisions and efforts to strengthen them were not clearly addressed.

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