Japan Trade Agreement Climate Change Commitments 2020-11-19

2020-11-19

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer

Edinburgh West

▸ Context

Concerns about the potential impact of the UK-Japan free trade agreement on climate change commitments.

What assessment she made of the potential effect of the free trade agreement with Japan on the UK's progress on meeting its climate change commitments. The agreement is seen to have certain provisions on data and lack of investor-state dispute settlement clause, but it is noted that ISDS has been used by large corporations to sue Governments over environmental regulations.

Greg Hands

The UK-Japan agreement locks in the benefits of the EU-Japan deal, including provisions on climate change such as those that reaffirm our respective commitments to the UN framework convention on climate change and the Paris agreement; those that promote trade in low-carbon goods and services; and those that support co-operation on trade and climate. Japan has announced it will seek to become carbon neutral by 2050. The UK is already party to ISDS with dozens of agreements, but the country has never lost a case brought against it in ISDS.

▸ Assessment & feedback

The specific assessment requested about the potential effect on climate change commitments was not provided.

Alarmism Is Misplaced

Response accuracy

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Q2 Partial Answer

Christine Jardine Lib Dem

Edinburgh West

▸ Context

Concerns about the inclusion of ISDS in trade agreements post-Brexit due to its potential misuse by large corporations to challenge environmental regulations.

Will the Minister confirm that, to protect our natural environment, the UK will not seek such an arrangement with either Japan or any other new trading partners after Brexit. The questioner highlights cases where ISDS has been used by corporations against Governments on issues like water pollution, deforestation and fracking.