Trade Negotiations

Debate between Baroness Gustafsson and Lord Hannay of Chiswick

Tuesday 13th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hannay of Chiswick (CB)]

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that account of the agreement with India and the deal with the United States. She said what the processes will be for the India deal with respect to this House—that the CRAG arrangements will be triggered—but she has not said anything about the deal with the United States. First, could she possibly reply to the question: what parliamentary scrutiny process will be applied to the deal with the United States? Secondly, could she say whether the United States deal is consistent with the UK’s MFN—most favoured nation—treatment under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and also whether the US agreement will fulfil the provisions of Article XXIV(6) of the GATT to give a waiver to any discrimination?

[Baroness Gustafsson (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for his question. I think he knows that yesterday I commented that I would follow up in writing with the specifics on that, and I will endeavour also to include the noble Lord in that response. As I commented yesterday, my parliamentary knowledge is thin but building, but it is not yet at Article XXIV of the GATT.