Free Trade Agreements Environmental Protection Standards 2020-06-18
2020-06-18
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
UK's efforts to maintain high environmental standards while negotiating free trade agreements with other countries.
There is no point in the UK achieving our own zero-carbon targets if the trade deals we reach with other countries are pushing them ever further away from achieving theirs. Can the Secretary of State ensure that all future FTAs agreed by the UK reinforce the legal primacy of emission targets established in the Paris climate change agreement?
It is worth pointing out that nothing in any trade agreement would prevent the UK from reaching its targets under the Paris agreement and to go net zero by 2050—we are the first Government to commit to doing that, and no trade agreement will prevent us from doing that. We remain on the front foot in our advocacy, making sure that the international response remains extremely strong, including through multilateral agreements and the UK contribution to the global climate fund.
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Assessment & feedback
The assurance about maintaining UK's own targets but did not address reinforcing Paris Agreement targets for other countries directly in FTAs.
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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NFU, CBI and TUC testified that Brexit cost the UK about 4.9% of GDP while a US trade deal would only benefit it by around 0.16%.
The NFU, CBI and TUC said at yesterday's Committee hearing that gains from Japan-UK trade deal would be much less than those from the US deal. Can any Minister provide figures for what percentage of GDP would be gained from a Japan-UK deal?
We published figures for the scoping study on the Japan free trade agreement but this is not an either/or scenario. We are pursuing multiple trade deals including EU, US and CPTPP while aiming to achieve environmental objectives in these agreements.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q3
Direct Answer
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In March, the Government asked Japan to set higher carbon emission reduction targets before COP26.
Is that still the view of the Secretary of State? Will she show increased ambition and include more stretching, measurable and binding climate targets in the new free trade agreement with Japan?
We have an opportunity to achieve our environmental objectives through various free trade agreements, including with New Zealand where advanced environmental clauses will be sought. Similarly, we aim for such targets in negotiations with Japan. However, the primary focus remains on COP26 summit process.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy