Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Trade Deals: Human Rights

Thursday 10 June 2021 · 6 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 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister stated the UK supports the promotion of human rights globally and does not believe trade must come at the expense of rights.
  • Minister expressed deep frustration at the lack of progress in the Middle East peace process and emphasized the need for a lasting resolution to ongoing violence.
  • Labour Members raised concerns about the UK's trade deal with Cameroon and the human rights situation in the country, questioning the government's approach to such issues.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alex Cunningham Lab
Business & Trade
Context

Discussions on inserting clauses regarding human rights into future UK trade agreements with partners.

Question

What recent discussions she has had with UK trade partners on inserting clauses on human rights in future trade deals?

Answer from Ranil Jayawardena

The United Kingdom has long supported the promotion of her values globally. We are clear that more trade does not need to come at the expense of rights or responsibilities, and although our approach to agreements will vary between partners, our strong economic relationships allow us to have open discussions on a range of issues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details about recent discussions and inclusion of human rights clauses in future trade deals were not provided.

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Q2 Beth Winter
Foreign Affairs
Context

Ongoing violations by the Israeli government, leading to attacks on Palestinian human rights and displacement of thousands.

Question

Given the ongoing violations of international law by the Israeli Government, the attacks on the human rights of the Palestinian people and their suffering, and Israel's recent bombardment of Gaza in May, does the Minister agree that it is now essential that there is an investigation into whether UK-made arms or components have been used in the violence and destruction in Gaza? In the meantime, will the Government immediately cease the export of arms to Israel?

Answer from Ranil Jayawardena

Every Israeli and Palestinian has the right to live in peace and security. We understand the deep frustration on all sides at the lack of progress in the middle east peace process. The ongoing violence just underlines that a lasting resolution that ends these problems is long overdue. In respect of our arms exports, we have a robust arms export control process in the United Kingdom that is governed by the consolidated criteria, and no exports occur where the consolidated criteria are not met.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Immediate cessation of arms exports to Israel was not committed to.

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Q3 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

The UK's ratification of a trade deal with Cameroon despite human rights abuses in the country.

Question

The UK's deal with Cameroon will complete its ratification process today, with no vote by MPs and no apparent concern from Ministers about the abuse that is taking place in that country. Can I ask the Minister whether he thinks the US Government were wrong to end preferential trade with Cameroon because of the Biya regime's abuses, and if not, why are we ratifying a deal to do the opposite?

Answer from Ranil Jayawardena

The Under-Secretary of State for International Trade, my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley and Holderness (Graham Stuart), spoke in an Adjournment debate yesterday on this topic, and the Opposition could, of course, have used an Opposition day debate on this area. We have a strong history of protecting rights around the world, promoting our values globally, and we will continue to do so. By having an economic partnership agreement in place and encouraging trade, we are continuing to support some of the most vulnerable people in Cameroon, providing valuable employment and helping to lift them out of poverty.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific reasons for UK's approach compared to US stance were not provided.

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Q4 Marie Rimmer Lab St Helens South and Whiston
Brexit Foreign Affairs
Context

Testimony of atrocities against the Uyghur population in China.

Question

Happy birthday, Mr Speaker. “Mass torture”, “rape” and “forced sterilisation”—that is the testimony of dozens of survivors at the Uyghur tribunal in London. Does the Minister really think the British Government should be turning a blind eye to the suffering of the human race for the sake of trade deals?

Answer from Ranil Jayawardena

We have not. We have proven our leadership and commitment time and again. We have ramped up pressure on China in multilateral forums. We are taking targeted action on supply chains and our approach to China remains clear-eyed: we remain rooted in our values and in our interests. The truth is that we have announced a series of measures to help make sure that British businesses and the public sector are in no way complicit in the rights violations in Xinjiang, and that includes making sure there is a review of export controls as they apply to the situation there.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures addressing UK-China trade were not detailed.

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Q5 Geraint Davies Lab
Brexit Foreign Affairs
Context

US invoking trade sanctions against Cameroon, but the UK signed a trade deal without parliamentary approval.

Question

Happy birthday, Mr Speaker. The English-speaking population in Cameroon faces mass killings, atrocities and torture. As we have heard, the US has now invoked trade sanctions, but the UK has signed a trade deal without parliamentary approval. So can I ask: has the EU's essential rights clause now been removed from all future trade deals, so that abuses, however abhorrent and widespread, will now be supported by the British economy through secret deals, thereby taking control back from Parliament and giving it to those with blood on their hands?

Answer from Ranil Jayawardena

I am not entirely sure what the hon. Gentleman is referring to in respect of secret deals. This is an agreement that the EU had originally. We have continued an agreement here to provide certainty to businesses in both countries and to date the EU has not taken measures against Cameroon—I know how fond he is of the EU.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Details about secret deals and removal of essential rights clause were not provided.

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Q6 Alex Cunningham Lab
Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

Adjournment debate last night regarding the Biya regime in Cameroon and its human rights record.

Question

In response to the Adjournment debate last night, the Under-Secretary of State for International Trade, the hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness, told the House in relation to Cameroon that “Violence does appear to have decreased in recent months compared with the peak of the conflict”.—[Official Report, 9 June 2021; Vol. 696, c. 1070.] as if the fact that the Biya regime is killing and maiming fewer of its own people than they were. Is it really the Government's position that it is fine to do trade deals with murderous regimes if they are now killing fewer of their own people than they were?

Answer from Ranil Jayawardena

The British people will have noticed that I have now answered five questions from Labour Members on future trade agreements and, instead of seeking to secure benefits for their constituents on those deals, they are clutching at straws to stop them. The Labour party is hopelessly out of touch. This Conservative Government are focused on delivering for the British people. Unlike Labour, we have a plan for jobs and growth, and trade is central to that. We have secured trade deals with 67 countries around the world, plus the EU, covering trade worth £730 billion last year—and we are just getting started.

Not addressed: Questions about human rights abuses were not addressed, instead focusing on Labour's approach to securing trade deals.

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