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There’s a trade debate in the Commons today. Only one question really needs to be asked of the government, which is why they have not published a trade strategy. Still if you need more, like what we should know by now… 1/ thread (long)
One of the Government’s stated priorities is a trade deal with the US. Michael Gove says we will not accept US food standards in the UK. The US will not do a deal on this basis. A US deal will also be hugely controversial. Why are we therefore proceeding? 2/
Another stated priority is joining CPTPP. This would also require the acceptance of US food standards. Joining CPTPP or a US trade deal would also mean the UK leaving the European standards community. What assessment has been made of the impact of this? 3/
How many trade deals does the Government think can be negotiated at any one time, and how will these trade deals interface with the negotiations that will also take place with the EU? What is the Government's view of likely timing? 4/
We now know that trade deals with large trading partners like Turkey, Japan and Korea will not be carried over in the event of no-deal Brexit. Why in this situation would these not be of a higher priority than new deals with Australia and New Zealand FTAs? 5/
We have heard a strong case is being made for reducing non-agricultural tariffs to zero and adopting global quotas for agriculture. What would the impact of this be on other countries desire to rollover existing trade deals or agree new ones? 6/
What assessment has been made of the total quantity of agricultural imports than could be imported tariff free without impact on UK producers? How does this affect UK trade policy 7/
What is the role of developing country preferences in UK trade policy? If tariff rates are generally reduced, what impact will have this on developing country exports in products like bananas or textiles which are already tariff free? 8/
What plans does the Department for International Trade have for dealing with the increase in business market access cases once such issues are no longer handled by the Commission? This applies deal or no deal. 9/
There are a range of trade policy tools that can be used for each country, including Free Trade Agreements, mutual recognition agreements, trade dialogues etc? Does the UK have a consolidated global plan for these? 10/
Can DIT guarantee that information for UK exporters that is currently only available on EU websites will be maintained on UK Government sites from the end of March? 11/
In the event of an EU deal is DIT aware of any country that will not agree to have their existing EU trade agreement applied to the UK? What will happen in this situation? 12/
In a deal situation, where UK companies have market access issues with an existing FTA partner how will these issues be handled given the UK will not be present at meetings between EU and the country concerned? 13/
The Secretary of State has said that digital trade should be at the heart of UK trade policy. What does this actually mean in terms of the contents of trade agreements? 14/
Services are notoriously difficult to liberalise in trade agreements. How will the UK Government therefore deliver gains for UK services companies in trade agreements, particularly given our own defensiveness on Mode 4 (movement of people)? 15/
What will the UK’s policy priorities be in new trade agreements? 16/
Does DIT believe there are any realistic prospect of any WTO agreements being completed in the near future, such as on e-commerce or services? What are they doing to make this happen? 17/
Does the Government have formal proposals as yet for how trade policy should be scrutinised by Parliament, in terms of negotiations, implementation etc? Would they accept European Parliament levels of scrutiny at minimum? 18/
Would the Government agree that a key lesson from Brexit is the importance of demonstrating their negotiating position reflects the view of the majority in Parliament? Do they think a US FTA negotiation would pass this test? 19/
Why did Government not tell businesses until recently that most EU trade agreements would not be replicated in the event of no-deal Brexit? Why have few negotiating updates been provided and will this be improved? 20/
What are the Government's plans with regards to Investor State Dispute Settlement? See letter from third sector groups, how will the interests of these groups, trade unions etc, be balanced with business interests? 21/
Given all of these questions are as yet unanswered, wouldn't it better to publish a proper trade strategy rather than have a fairly vague debate? When does the Government plan to table such a trade strategy? 22/ end
PS am reminded by @IFTtweets of one of the big questions of UK trade policy, are we going to follow the EU in maintaining a ban on hormone treated beef that the WTO found not to be based on scientific evidence? A difficult issue.
