Bilateral Trade: Sri Lanka Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateBaroness Symons of Vernham Dean
Main Page: Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Labour - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean's debates with the Department for International Trade
(7 years, 5 months ago)
Lords ChamberI agree. Trade indeed brings peace and prosperity and, through that, improves living standards. Improving our trade links with Sri Lanka and other Governments will lift people from poverty and bring a peace benefit.
My Lords, I declare an interest as the chairman of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce. These free trade agreements—not just in Sri Lanka, but elsewhere—are a crucial part of government strategy over Brexit. In your Lordships’ House there is a great deal of interest in how they will develop. Will the Minister consider convening a meeting of interested Peers to brief us on how free trade agreements are going and what has to be taken into consideration?
My Lords, I am convinced that, over the next two years, there will be an awful lot of briefings for Members of this House and the other House about our trade arrangements. I reassure noble Lords that at some point we will be able to talk about our trading relationships and trade policy.