Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Trade Deals with ASEAN Countries

Thursday 25 February 2021 · 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 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Last year, the UK secured trade deals with Vietnam and Singapore.
  • The UK submitted an application to join the CPTPP, which includes four ASEAN countries.
  • Thailand is a priority for formal free trade agreement negotiations due to its 5 billion annual bilateral relationship with the UK.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Garnier Con Wyre Forest
Business & Trade
Context

The question arises in the context of securing trade agreements with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Previous achievements include deals with Vietnam and Singapore, and an application to join CPTPP.

Question

What progress has been made on securing trade deals with ASEAN countries?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

Last year, we secured trade deals with Vietnam and Singapore. This month, I submitted our application to CPTPP—a huge free trade area covering £9 trillion of GDP—which contains four ASEAN countries.

Answered
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Q2 Mark Garnier Con Wyre Forest
Business & Trade
Context

The question pertains to prioritising Thailand for formal free trade agreement negotiations, highlighting the bilateral relationship worth £5 billion annually and the role of the MP as a trade envoy.

Question

Could my right hon. Friend see her way to prioritising Thailand in the next round of countries to engage in formal free trade agreement negotiations?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

My hon. Friend is right to highlight the importance of Thailand. We have a bilateral relationship worth £5 billion a year and he is doing a fantastic job as our trade envoy to that great country. We are currently conducting a joint trade review to identify priorities in agriculture, pharmaceuticals and food and drink, and this is strong groundwork for a future FTA negotiation.

Answered
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Q3 Emily Thornberry Lab Islington South and Finsbury
Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

The question addresses the decision not to suspend Cambodia's trade preferences despite escalating human rights abuses, with a focus on the threshold for invoking 'last resort' sanctions.

Question

Why has she decided not to suspend Cambodia's trade preferences given the escalating human rights abuses in that country?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

I would point out to the right hon. Lady that the trade that I am responsible for covers 80% of GDP, and the reason why we have not hitherto had as much trade with that part of the world is because of the high trade barriers that we are seeking to remove through these trade agreements. I do, however, share her concerns about human rights violations in Cambodia, and this Government continue to raise the issue with the Cambodian Government at every opportunity.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specifics on when trade preferences would be suspended were not provided.

How: We Are Concerned About The Situation In Cambodia

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

The question criticises departmental advice to UK companies operating in Cambodia, citing a recent publication by her Department.

Question

Is she not aware of the guidance that has been given by her Department to UK companies doing business in Cambodia?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

As I have said, we are concerned about the situation in Cambodia, but it is important to recognise that trade sanctions can often have impacts on the poorest people in a country. The best way that we can achieve our objectives is through the work of the Foreign Office and my colleague the Foreign Secretary, in raising this issue at a political level.

Not addressed: Did not address the specific guidance to UK companies doing business in Cambodia.

How: It Is Important To Recognise That Trade Sanctions Can Often Have Impacts On The Poorest People In A Country

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Q5 Angus MacNeil SNP
Economy Business & Trade
Context

The question critiques the lack of replacement for EU market access and seeks data on economic gains from ASEAN and CPTPP.

Question

What do the numbers say about the gains to GDP from ASEAN trade deals?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

The Chairman of the Select Committee understands that a lot of the economies we are talking about are fast-growing. We want to be in a position, in 2030 to 2040, to make sure that the UK has deep relationships with some of the fastest-growing parts of the world, like CPTPP, the United States and places where our exports are currently growing faster than they are for the EU. I would also point out to him that it is Lord Frost and the Cabinet Office who are responsible for negotiating and working with the EU.

Not addressed: Did not provide numerical data on economic gains from ASEAN trade deals or CPTPP.

How: Lord Frost And The Cabinet Office Are Responsible For Negotiating And Working With The Eu

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