Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

Debate between Baroness Altmann and Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

Tuesday 15th December 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Altmann (Con)]

My Lords, I am delighted to hear that the Government have no intention of signing a free trade agreement with China, and I welcome RCEP because it could well have positive implications for companies in the EU and the UK. Does my noble friend agree that this arrangement will allow companies to ship products across the region more easily, without the rule-of-origin problems and with lower costs for those companies and their supply chains across the region? Does he agree that the UK would benefit from that if, rather than leaving the EU on WTO terms, we could retain our agreements with the EU?

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

My Lords, I have learnt that it is not easy to give answers that are completely up to date in relation to the EU negotiations. Noble Lords realise that these negotiations are proceeding, and a Statement will no doubt be made as to their conclusion in due course.

Intellectual Property Rights: Affordable Drugs

Debate between Baroness Altmann and Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

Monday 30th November 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Altmann (Con)]

My Lords, how are we assisting countries to take advantage of the flexibilities in the current rules on this TRIPS issue? Can we do more to help them access these drugs affordably?

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

Our posts on the ground well know the importance of this. We try to bring these flexibilities home to these countries through all available channels; one would hope that they would use these flexibilities, as they would be so much to their advantage.