Speaking in the Chamber earlier today, Andrew Rosindell M.P. had the opportunity to ask the Government two questions regarding the trajectory of British trade policy.
Given we have now left the European Free-Market, Britain is now able to trade with hundreds of other countries, freely, across the world.
As Britain is uniquely bestowed with a wonderful institution that is the Commonwealth, it would be a waste not to maximise its potential.
This is why, today, Andrew called on the Government to look into current proposals from Lord Hannan, for a pan-Commonwealth, World Trade Organisation style, opt-in/opt-out baseline trade agreement.
Mr Speaker, I know that you will be celebrating Commonwealth day on Monday with the raising of the Commonwealth flag. Will the Minister take this opportunity to expand our trading relations with the Commonwealth and look at the idea of an opt-in, opt-out WTO-style organisation involving all Commonwealth countries? Surely this is a great opportunity to expand our trade with some of the world’s emerging economic powerhouses.
Andrew Rosindell M.P., Member of Parliament for Romford
I thank my hon. Friend for that question and his commitment to the Commonwealth. As a constituency MP with a huge Commonwealth diaspora in Chelsea and Fulham, I totally understand his sympathies and look forward to celebrating Commonwealth day with him and others next week. He knows that the Commonwealth does not make trade rules, nor is it a trade agreement body like the Gulf Co-operation Council, the European Free Trade Association or the CPTPP. We think that the better course at present is to ratify our CPTPP membership and continue to have reduced tariffs under our developing countries trading scheme. However, we are always open to new ideas at the Department for Business and Trade and I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this further.
The Rt Hon. Greg Hands M.P., Minister of State for Trade Policy
Andrew also had the opportunity, as Chairman of the Switzerland All-Party Parliamentary Group, to ask the Government which of the 20+ working groups they will be prioritising ahead of the fourth round of free-trade talks.
For the video of this contribution, please click here.
As chair of the British-Switzerland all-party parliamentary group, I am delighted to commend the Government on the forthcoming new trade agreement with Switzerland, but will the Secretary of State please update the House on progress? Particularly, will she tell us which of the 20-plus working groups the Government intend to prioritise as part of the negotiations?
Andrew Rosindell M.P., Member of Parliament for Romford
I thank my hon. Friend, who is a leading member of the British-Switzerland APPG, for his interest. Both the Secretary of State and I met the Swiss Trade Minister in Abu Dhabi last week. The trade talks are progressing well. We are seeking high-ambition outcomes in all areas, including services and investment, mobility, digital, and the environment, which are not covered by our existing FTA. In short, there are a large number of high-priority areas for us, building on the agreement that we did on financial services in Bern at the end of last year, to ensure that this UK-Switzerland FTA really takes forward the bilateral trade relationship. The fourth round of negotiations is taking place in Bern this week.
The Rt Hon. Greg Hands M.P., Minister of State for Trade Policy
