Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

Thursday 3 November 2022 · 3 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

  • James Wild asked about progress on UK membership of the CPTPP free trade area.
  • The response highlighted the potential GDP increase and tariff-free access for UK goods.
  • James Wild also questioned the importance of supporting export firms to boost productivity and growth.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
Business & Trade
Context

The MP is inquiring about progress on the UK's potential membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The agreement involves 11 countries across four continents, offering significant economic benefits.

Question

What progress her Department has made on securing UK membership of the comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-Pacific partnership?

Answer from Greg Hands

Joining the CPTPP free trade area is a flagship policy of global Britain. The agreement covers 11 countries across four continents, increasing UK GDP from 12% to 15%. Up to 99.9% of UK goods would enter tariff-free under this agreement.

Answered
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Q2 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
Business & Trade
Context

The MP is questioning the prioritisation of concluding negotiations for UK's CPTPP membership. He mentions Captain Fawcett, a successful grooming products company based in King's Lynn that sells internationally.

Question

Given the potential prize of access to markets worth £9 trillion, will my right hon. Friend prioritise not only concluding the negotiations, but working with export champions—such as Captain Fawcett in King's Lynn—to encourage more firms to export and to boost productivity and growth?

Answer from Greg Hands

My hon. Friend raises two important points: the importance of concluding the CPTPP negotiations is a priority; international trade advisers are working to support firms in King's Lynn, including KLT Filtration which has received support for its water-purification brand business.

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Q3 Angus MacNeil SNP
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The MP is questioning the potential gains from CPTPP membership and its ability to compensate for Brexit's economic damage. He raises concerns about bureaucracy and paperwork affecting small and medium-sized enterprises.

Question

It is good to be straight and frank about CPTPP, but if we are to be straight and frank, to have gains for jobs, the economy and living standards, would the Government not need 62 CPTPP deals to compensate for the Brexit economic damage? It also means being straight with small and medium-sized enterprises that they will face more bureaucracy and paperwork instead of tariffs. Will he confirm that CPTPP will be worth only one sixtieth of the Brexit damage?

Answer from Greg Hands

It is good to engage with the Chair of the Select Committee. The Department has missed him and his questioning of international trade policies.

Not addressed: economic impact, bureaucracy concerns

How: Personal Comment

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