Thread by @PickardJE

turns out Boris Johnson’s intention to build his new trade yacht in the UK is set to fall foul of a World Trade Organization agreement struck by his own government last year

ft.com/content/c77b7a…

- in October Liz Truss signed the WTO’s “global procurement agreement”

- she said GPA would allow UK companies to keep bidding for state contracts worth £1.3tr globally

- overseas groups could still bid for UK public sector contracts “delivering better value for UK taxpayers”

- but item 47 of annex 4 of UK schedule of GPA says procurement of “ships, boats & floating structures, except warships” must be advertised internationally & awarded without discrimination.

- by contrast US, Japan, Australia have exempted non-military ships from this obligation

- if it was a military vessel then it *would* be exempt

- this explains why Johnson has given the Ministry of Defence responsibility for overseeing the project

- and will staff the flagship with Royal Navy personnel

- but the purpose of the vessel is entirely commercial, even if they do stick a couple of cannons on it

- so it remains to be seen whether other countries will ignore this Mr-Snrub type subterfuge

- or whether they will take legal action either in UK courts or at the WTO

shadow trade secretary @EmilyThornberry said ministers had failed to take “the most basic and simple steps” to guarantee the boat could be built in Britain.

“It is yet more copper-bottomed, ocean-going incompetence from Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.”

some of our readers are sceptical about the boat