Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Liam Fox

Thursday 11th July 2019 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

As ever, it is nice to know that the hon. Gentleman is consistently wrong. He talks about our investment figures, but investment into the United Kingdom was the third highest of any country in the world, and it was the highest in Europe. At a time when global foreign direct investment fell, it continued to rise in the UK. When it comes to tariffs, one reason the Government introduced the temporary tariff scheme was to stop a price shock in the UK, and one of the reasons for that is that those on lower incomes spend more on goods than services. Introducing liberalisation will help to protect consumers on lower incomes, and I would have thought even today’s Labour party might have supported that.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

T2. Can market access agreements be even more important than free trade agreements?

Trade Remedy Measures: UK Interests

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Liam Fox

Monday 25th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely correct. We do need to look after our economic interests, which is why we need a Trade Remedies Authority that is able to put these trade remedies in place and review them. We did not vote against the establishment of the Trade Remedies Authority; the Opposition parties did so by voting against the Trade Bill in what would otherwise be an act of economic vandalism, were we not stepping in to ensure that businesses such as steel and ceramics are properly protected.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

What is it about ironing boards?

[Dr Fox]

Like all the other elements that I mentioned, they in one way or another provide jobs for people in the United Kingdom, and the Government will ensure that industries whether large or small are given the appropriate protection from unfair trading from overseas.

EU Trade Agreements: Replication

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Liam Fox

Wednesday 13th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

The hon. Lady raises a very important point. On Japan, the Japanese Government have said to us that if there were a deal with the European Union, they intend to roll over the Japan economic partnership agreement at that point, and the UK would continue to benefit. I have to say, though, that we have been trading with Japan for many years, but trading on World Trade Organisation terms. We have been trading under the Japan EPA for a matter of days. When it comes to British business continuity, firms are used to dealing on WTO terms, and I envisage our trade relationship with Japan to be largely effected by our potential membership of CPTPP, to which the Japanese Government have given enormous encouragement.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

But from whom were representations had to the effect that remaining in a customs union would be a disaster?

[Dr Fox]

It would be unparliamentary of me to use the same term as the shadow Secretary of State for some of Labour’s tests that have led it to its policy today. It is nonsensical to say that we can be both in a customs union with the European Union as a third country and still have an effect on trade. Those tests would increase the chances of the UK remaining permanently as a rule taker, which would not be advantageous to the UK.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Liam Fox

Thursday 7th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

As I have said, any future trade agreements that we have beyond the European Union will be subject to public consultation, to debate in this House and, I hope, to rigorous processes that I may set out in due course about how we can increase scrutiny of those agreements. Members across the House will place different types of emphasis on different constituencies and different sectors of the economy, but I think that the whole House will share those concerns about ethics. I hope that the design of the scrutiny of those trade agreements that I will be able to bring to the House in greater detail soon will give the right hon. Gentleman the reassurance that he seeks.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Is not championing global free trade the best way of promoting human rights?

[Dr Fox]

We all need to remember that the great success of free trade over the last generation has been the truly historic achievement of taking 1 billion people out of abject poverty. That has been the benefit of free trade, and in this era of protectionism we should realise that economic nationalism is a way of rolling back what has been an enormously beneficial human trend.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Liam Fox

Thursday 20th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

The hon. Lady raises an important point. Of course, we have a number of agreements already with a number of Commonwealth countries and groups of Commonwealth countries, and we are close to signing one, which we will announce to the House shortly. However, we are also concerned about the level of intra-Commonwealth trade and how we can use that very large population, often with common legal rules, to enhance it. At the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in London, we set out our plans for a trade audit tool to help improve it, and we have had very positive engagement on that. There is tremendous opportunity inside the Commonwealth to allow countries to trade their way out of poverty, and we intend to ensure that that is made possible.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

It is vital to forbear from agreeing a price before negotiations begin and to maintain the ability to walk away, isn’t it?

[Dr Fox]

Self-evidently.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Liam Fox

Thursday 15th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

7. What recent discussions he has had on trade and investment with the Chinese Government.

[The Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade (Dr Liam Fox)]

I have made five visits to China this year. The most recent was when I led the UK delegation to China’s International Import Expo in Shanghai this month, supporting British firms to sign deals worth over £2 billion.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

How are we doing in terms of goods and services, and how does that compare internationally?

[Dr Fox]

Our ratio of goods and services exports to the world outside the European Union is roughly 50:50. Eighty per cent. of our exports to China are goods, which suggests that the Chinese service market is not as open as it should be. Therefore, much of our effort is based on trying to encourage the Government of China to open up its services, which of course would be of benefit to the United Kingdom, the world’s second biggest services exporter.

Trade Policy

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Liam Fox

Monday 16th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave earlier, which was that the Government should be judged on what they are doing. In terms of the agreements we are now looking at and will be debating tomorrow, they all include those. I find it difficult to imagine that, when we have a widespread consultation, that will not be a strong ask of the Government.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

But any scrutiny of and consultation on manufactures and food will be limited to tariff and quota, because we will continue to be bound by the acquis, won’t we?

[Dr Fox]

I am not sure that that question was entirely within the scope of the statement, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even if we are looking purely at goods issues, I think that the ability of the United Kingdom to abolish or reduce to zero tariffs with the United States on cars, for example, would have been something that President Trump would have welcomed last week.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Liam Fox

Thursday 28th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

[The Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade (Dr Liam Fox)]

My Department is responsible for foreign and outward direct investment, for establishing an independent trade policy and for export promotion. I am delighted today to announce the appointment of Natalie Black, Emma-Wade Smith and Simon Penney as our new Trade Commissioners for Asia Pacific, Africa and the middle east respectively. May I also thank my departing senior private secretary, George Thomson? We do not thank our excellent civil servants nearly enough for the job that they do.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

Will the Secretary of State adopt the trade policy of Her Majesty’s Opposition?

[Dr Fox]

Inasmuch as I am able to discern what it is, which the events of this week make extremely difficult, the answer would have to be no—not least because, in regard to trade, the Opposition Front Bench has become a caricature of a loony left party in seeming to regard Justin Trudeau as a lackey of global corporatism.

US Steel and Aluminium Tariffs

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Liam Fox

Monday 4th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

How realistic was it to have expected a concession on steel notwithstanding our having publicly announced our intent to undermine US security policy and trade policy on Iran?

[Dr Fox]

I do not think that those issues are remotely related. It has been clear from the presidential election campaign onwards that the President has concerns about the US steel industry and global overcapacity. We do not disagree with the analysis of the problem; we disagree with the remedy being applied.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Liam Fox

Thursday 29th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

I am keen to ensure that that market is fully exploited. If the hon. Lady wants the representatives to speak directly to one of our Ministers, we would be happy to speak to them to see whether there are any technical impediments that can be swept away.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

What has been the impact of the Food is GREAT campaign?

[Dr Fox]

To get more people around the world to understand that high-quality British produce is a world beater.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Liam Fox

Thursday 22nd February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

I met Swiss Ministers in Geneva recently, and we discussed what the future arrangement would be. Clearly, how we oversee the arrangement depends on what the arrangement itself is, and that is currently under negotiation.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

We do not need trade agreements to trade, do we?

[Dr Fox]

No.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Liam Fox

Thursday 11th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

The Government are indeed committed to ensuring continuity of the 40 or so EU free trade agreements after we leave the European Union, and that is why we introduced the relevant legislation this week. I am, however, rather disappointed that the right hon. Gentleman and his party saw fit to vote against that legislation, and deny British business that confidence.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Should we seek any level of protection, the agreements will take longer and yield less—won’t they?

[Dr Fox]

Our clear aim is to achieve continuity and stability. We want the agreements that we have already as part of the EU to be delivered safely and securely into UK law, and that is the point of the Trade Bill.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Liam Fox

Thursday 12th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

If the hon. Gentleman is referring to the transitional adoption of existing EU agreements, I can tell him that we have had a very positive response from other Governments, who, like us, want to ensure that there is no disruption of trade at the point of departure from the European Union. We will want to get as many of those in place as we can. That depends partly on the willingness of partners to get that ready on time; there are obviously contingency measures available to us under the World Trade Organisation to ensure continued market access in any case.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Can we just declare for free trade?

[Dr Fox]

This Government constantly declares for free trade. In fact, as we leave the European Union and take up our independent seat on the World Trade Organisation, this country intends to champion the cause of global free trade, especially at a time when the growth in trade has been slowing down in recent years.

Export Licensing: High Court Judgment

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Liam Fox

Monday 10th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

We have never had any objection to an independent UN inquiry into that. Part of the trouble, however, as set out in the judgment, was the availability of evidence—especially in open session—to such an inquiry. When Members read the full judgment, they will see why there is such significance to it. I am entirely open-minded about any future UN inquiry.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

How many licences have been refused?

[Dr Fox]

There are a number of different criteria, and they are assessed on a regular basis. There were 366 refusals or revocations in 2016. Eight different categories of refusals and revocations are set out. To be helpful, I will make a copy of those categories available in the Library, if it does not have one already.