Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Occupied Territories: Ban on Imports

Tuesday 2 May 2023 · 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

  • The UK has no plans to ban imports from the Occupied Palestinian Territories
  • Goods imported from settlements are not entitled to preferential treatment under the UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement
  • Only Israeli goods originating from the state of Israel will be covered by the new UK-Israel free trade agreement

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

The MP inquired about the UK's stance on importing goods from occupied territories, particularly the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Question

If he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential merits of implementing a ban on importing goods produced in occupied territories. The UK has no plans to ban imports from the Occupied Palestinian Territories, but goods imported from settlements are not entitled to preferential treatment under the UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement.

Answer from David Rutley

The UK has no plans to ban imports from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Goods imported from settlements are not entitled to preferential treatment under the UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement, and the UK supports accurate labelling of settlement goods so as not to mislead the consumer.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plans or discussions on banning imports from occupied territories were not mentioned.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
Ukraine Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

The MP questioned why the UK imports goods from the Occupied Palestinian Territories despite not importing goods from Crimea, and sought assurances regarding future trade agreements with Israel.

Question

I think it would be uncontroversial to say that we would not import goods from Crimea, so why it should be any different when we are dealing with the Occupied Palestinian Territories, I simply do not understand. Looking forward to any future trade agreement with Israel, can the Minister assure me that any such agreement would include a clear territoriality clause to specify that it applied only to the sovereign state of Israel, and not to any part of those territories occupied by her in 1967?

Answer from David Rutley

Only Israeli goods originating from the state of Israel will be covered by the new UK-Israel free trade agreement.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address whether there would be a territoriality clause specifying that future trade agreements apply only to the sovereign state of Israel.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email