Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel on 23 July (HL6931), what plans they have to ensure that the UK’s road vehicle environmental and safety standards will apply to vehicles which are subject to any free trade agreement negotiated with the government of the United States.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
British environmental and safety standards will apply to all vehicles operating on British roads. This is as true of vehicles imported under a free trade agreement as it is to vehicles that have been manufactured here.
Vehicles exported to the United States will similarly need to adhere to the environmental and safety standards that are in force there. This is true of both federal and state level standards / regulations.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government with which countries they are pursuing free trade agreements on matters which include the automotive sector; and on which agreements the negotiations are furthest advanced.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The United Kingdom is currently in negotiations with the USA, Australia and New Zealand to establish new Free Trade Agreements, and with Japan based upon the existing Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and the EU. The UK intends to pursue accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). We are also undertaking ongoing discussion with partners with whom we have not yet finalised continuity agreements transitioning existing EU Free Trade Agreements to bilateral agreements.
1.3 million cars were produced across the United Kingdom in 2019, of which 81% were exported. According to SMMT this represents £42.4 billion of exports, or 13% of the United Kingdom’s total exported goods. The industry is clearly an important exporter for Britain and is a significant consideration in all free trade agreements that the Department is pursuing.
It would not be appropriate to comment on progress while negotiations are ongoing.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the views of the UK automotive industry regarding vehicle safety standards in future free trade agreements.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
British vehicle safety standards are amongst the best in the world. HM Government welcomes input from industry and we share their view that our standards should not be compromised as part of future free trade agreements.
Due to their sensitive nature, it is not appropriate to discuss the details of ongoing free trade agreement negotiations.
Continuity trade agreements that have been completed are published in full on GOV.UK at: gov.uk/guidance/uk-trade-agreements-with-non-eu-countries. Each completed agreement includes a Parliamentary Report, which provides further details.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have discussed vehicle safety standards during negotiations on any free trade agreement; and if so, what agreement has been made.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
British vehicle safety standards are amongst the best in the world. HM Government welcomes input from industry and we share their view that our standards should not be compromised as part of future free trade agreements.
Due to their sensitive nature, it is not appropriate to discuss the details of ongoing free trade agreement negotiations.
Continuity trade agreements that have been completed are published in full on GOV.UK at: gov.uk/guidance/uk-trade-agreements-with-non-eu-countries. Each completed agreement includes a Parliamentary Report, which provides further details.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to have an objective in negotiating a free trade agreement with the government of the United States that (1) that government will accept vehicle type approval certification by the UK, and (2) UK exporters will not have to comply with the vehicle certification regulations set by individual states of the United States.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Government published its objectives for UK-US Free Trade Agreement negotiations on gov.uk on 1st March 2020. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uks-approach-to-trade-negotiations-with-the-us
Due to their sensitive nature, it is not appropriate to provide further detail while negotiations are ongoing.