Key Facts

• The new clause specifies that certain public authorities can disclose information to assist in trade-related functions.
• The clause lists the Secretary of State, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, strategic highways companies, and port health authorities as specified public authorities.
• A person receiving information under this clause may only use it for facilitating trade-related public authority functions and must obtain consent from the disclosing authority to further disclose the information.
• New clause 1 requires a Minister to lay a report before Parliament before the UK ratifies a new free trade agreement.
• New clause 8 would ensure that HMG has a duty to restrict market access to healthcare services, including medicines and medical devices.
• New clause 9 aligns the UK’s trade policy with its climate and environmental agenda.
• Government has concluded 20 continuity agreements with 48 countries, accounting for £110 billion of UK trade in 2018.
• These agreements represent 74% of the trade with countries where continuity was sought before the withdrawal agreement.
• The government aims to have a world-leading border by 2050.
• The Government has published 20 reports, five of which have been debated in the other place without any motion of regret.
• CRAG allows Parliament to block trade deals through debates and votes.
• The Japan agreement will be an enhanced free trade agreement based on the EU's existing agreement with Japan.
• The Government has committed to laying final impact assessments once trade negotiations have concluded.
• The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 provides rigorous checks on government powers for negotiating and ratifying new agreements.
• For new trade agreements, the Government will work closely with scrutiny committees in both Houses, providing confidential briefings as appropriate.
• New clause 12 proposes a review of free trade agreements every five years after entry into force.
• New clause 18 seeks to give Parliament and the devolved legislatures binding votes on or vetoes over international agreements.
• The Government have regular dialogue with the International Trade Committee.
• The Trade Bill is seen to have serious shortcomings regarding social, environmental, and democratic aspects.
• Ministers can make changes to retained EU law in a Committee of 17 MPs with a maximum debate of 90 minutes over up to 10 years.
• Only half of the 40 agreements covered by the Bill have been signed.
• The Bill aims to establish a voting mandate on international trade agreements.
• Trade unions are excluded from some ETAGs that were not set up for scrutinizing trade deals.
• NDAs prevent consultation and analysis of texts by limited ETAG memberships.
• ISDS clauses allow companies to sue governments over policy changes.
• Standstill and ratchet clauses prevent the return of privatised public services to public ownership.
• US President seeks full market access for products including NHS medicines.
• Northern Ireland producers export 75% of their agrifood products.
• The Trade and Agriculture Commission is advisory, not regulatory.
• The Trade Bill lacks a statutory obligation for UK Government to seek consent from Scottish Ministers before exercising powers in devolved areas.
• Previous Trade Bill provisions allowing regulation-making powers without consent were removed but similar issues remain.
• New clause 4 would give devolved Assemblies and the Scottish Parliament authority over trade negotiations affecting their competences.
• New clause 7 would affirm the UK’s rights under the SPS agreement.
• It prohibits importing food from countries with lower standards than those in the UK.
• New clause 8 ensures a duty to restrict market access for healthcare services, including medicines and medical devices.
• The MP supported new clause 2 of the Agriculture Bill.
• Over 400 NHS and senior public health professionals have signed an open letter demanding legal guarantees in post-Brexit trade legislation.
• In Fleur Anderson's constituency, 39% of jobs are identified as being severely impacted by a no-deal Brexit or bad deal with the EU.
• New clause 11 seeks to ban imports unless produced under UK standards.
• It is already illegal in UK law to import products like chlorine-washed chicken or hormone-treated beef.
• The amendment would prevent dynamic alignment and could kill trade deals with developing countries.
• New clause 9 requires ratification or implementation of international trade agreements not to restrict UK’s ability to pursue climate and environmental goals.
• The Trade Bill is criticized for failing to align with post-Brexit objectives and current crises like climate change, nature conservation, and the pandemic.
• Thousands of people have contacted the Minister expressing concern about food standards.
• The Government has established a commission to listen to farmers' concerns.
• There is an import ban in place prohibiting the entry of chlorinated chicken into the UK.
• Craig Williams represents one of the largest agricultural communities in the country.
• The CRAG procedure provides for scrutiny and accountability in trade deal negotiations.
• Trade was worth £17.5 billion for Wales in 2019.
• More than 60% of Welsh exports are destined for the European Union.
• Welsh food and drink exports were worth more than £530 million in 2018.
• The CRAG process allows Parliament to vote on trade deals.
• The Trade Bill does not remove the UK's current food standards.
• Hormones and chlorine in food are banned now and will remain banned.
• Existing food law, including retained EU law, will be rolled over when the transition period ends.
• From January 2021, the UK will begin developing its own independent trade policy.
• New clause 4 proposes parliamentary scrutiny of free trade agreements with a yes/no vote on negotiating objectives and final draft agreements.
• The EU Parliament has historically taken a yes/no vote on draft FTAs prior to signature.
• The CRAG process implemented in 2010 by Labour is described as inadequate.
• A letter from the Chair of the Trade Development Department Committee to the Secretary of State on 18 June highlights the lack of detailed arrangements for FTA scrutiny.
• Japan has offered a quick deal, but it will not be treated as a roll-over for scrutiny purposes under current legislation.
• The Trade Bill is seen as an opportunity to protect UK industries like agrifood and agriculture.
• There are concerns about executive overreach that need addressing in the Bill.
• Northern Ireland's fishing industry needs support from the Trade Bill to grow outside EU regulations.
• Some Members advocate for new clauses 4 and 7 to strengthen protections.
• The trade and agriculture commission is led by Tim Smith.
• The MP urges the Government to maintain commitments on environment, animal welfare, and trading visions as stated in their manifesto.
• The Bill does not mention climate or environmental concerns.
• The Trade Bill lacks parliamentary scrutiny of future trade deals.
• Constituents worry about potential US trade deal leading to lower food standards.
• Labour calls for legal guarantees protecting NHS, food standards, workers' rights, and environmental protections.
• Over 60% of Jarrow constituency voted to leave the EU in 2016.
• The NHS has not been properly funded for over a decade due to austerity measures.
• Research by Global Justice Now estimates the value of UK health data at about £10 billion annually.
• The Trade Bill is described as a continuity Bill designed to give confidence to businesses exporting to various countries.
• The MP opposes amendments tabled regarding standards, arguing they are anti-trade measures that could harm exporters and trade opportunities.
• Under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act, MPs already have powers to scrutinise international treaties.
• The Trade Bill is about continuity trade agreements vital for British farmers and businesses.
• Food standards will be transferred from EU law to British law, ensuring they remain unchanged without parliamentary approval.
• The lifting of the ban on British beef exports to America is worth £66 million.
• The government intends to join the Agreement on Government Procurement as an independent party on substantially the same terms as EU membership.
• UK businesses will have access to public procurement opportunities worth some £1.3 trillion per year through GPA membership.
• The Trade Remedies Authority will ensure continuity of remedial action for industries like Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramics.
• The US has triple the number of road deaths per million compared with the UK due to differences in car safety standards.
• New cars sold in the EU will have collision avoidance systems for pedestrian protection.
• Constituents are concerned about parliamentary oversight over future trade agreements.
• New clause 11 ensures that imported agricultural goods meet UK standards on animal health, welfare, environmental protection, food safety, hygiene, traceability and plant health.
• New clauses 5 and 6 are seen as strengthening the Bill by creating a balance between efficient trade and protection of constituents' interests.
• Factories in Stafford produce Perkins engines, generators for General Electric, and JCB tractors that rely on international supply chains.
• The Bill aims to provide long-term trading opportunities while ensuring short-term certainty during uncertain times.
• Food standards remain a concern with some Members supporting new clause 4 due to potential lowering of standards.
• The Minister provided personal assurances regarding food safety, animal welfare, and environmental standards not being compromised.
• The Bill aims to secure continuity with up to 40 EU trade agreements.
• A Trade Remedies Authority is established to protect UK businesses and jobs from unfair trading practices.
• The Bill provides access to a £1.3 billion global market in government procurement.
• Amendments would require imported agricultural goods to meet UK animal welfare, environmental, plant health, food safety standards.
• New clause aims to protect public health services like the NHS from restrictions imposed by international trade agreements.
• Devolved governments' consent is required for regulations made under section 2(1) that fall within their competence.
• Amendment 6 allows HMRC to share information with Ministers of the Crown rather than just the Secretary of State.
• Amendment 8 specifies Ministerial functions relating to trade analysis, including traffic, goods, services flow, impact assessment, and measure design.
• Amendment 9 seeks to clarify the interaction between the power to share information and data protection legislation.