Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Unfair Trading Practices

Thursday 15 April 2021 · 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Questions on unfair trading practices were held on 2021-04-15
  • Duncan Baker inquired about steps to tackle trade-distorting subsidies and other unfair trading practices
  • The response mentioned the establishment of the Trade Remedies Authority to ensure countries follow WTO rules and recommend countervailing duties when necessary

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Duncan Baker
Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from concerns about the impact of unfair trade practices on British products, particularly in industries with historical significance such as wool in Norfolk.

Question

What steps she is taking to tackle the use of (a) trade-distorting subsidies and (b) other unfair trading practices. The wool trade started in Norfolk in medieval times, many, many years ago, and we have always been an outward-looking area to the world, but for trade to be free, it must also be fair.

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

We are establishing the new Trade Remedies Authority—which, of course, the Opposition voted against—in the Trade Bill, which will ensure that all countries follow the WTO rules. It will look at the evidence and be unafraid to recommend countervailing duties on exports when other countries do not play by the rules.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific examples or commitments regarding trade-distorting subsidies and unfair trading practices, focusing instead on general statements about establishing a new authority.

How: Voting Against, Opposition Voted Against

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Q2 Duncan Baker
Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from concerns about the impact of unfair trade practices on British products, particularly in industries with historical significance such as wool in Norfolk.

Question

What steps she is taking to protect vital industries to ensure that they are not undercut by those unscrupulous countries that engage in unfair trading practices. The wool trade started in Norfolk in medieval times, many, many years ago, and we have always been an outward-looking area to the world, but for trade to be free, it must also be fair.

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

We are establishing the new Trade Remedies Authority—which, of course, the Opposition voted against—in the Trade Bill, which will ensure that all countries follow the WTO rules. It will look at the evidence and be unafraid to recommend countervailing duties on exports when other countries do not play by the rules.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific examples or commitments regarding trade-distorting subsidies and unfair trading practices, focusing instead on general statements about establishing a new authority.

How: Voting Against, Opposition Voted Against

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