Maldives: Tariffs

Debate between Lord Grimstone of Boscobel and Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

Tuesday 14th December 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

Of course size matters, my Lords, but it is not an easy criterion to apply to free trade agreements.

[Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (GP)]

I understand that since Brexit we have joined the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. With all our knowledge of sustainability and conservation, are we actually contributing to that organisation? Are we urging it to improve constantly?

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

My Lords, it is a long time since I did geography at school, but I am not entirely sure that what we are doing in the Atlantic necessarily applies to the Maldives. I do not have full details of the agreement that the noble Baroness refers to, so I will research it and write to her.

Climate Change: Trade Policy

Debate between Lord Grimstone of Boscobel and Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

Thursday 28th October 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (GP)]

Being endlessly flexible and trying to help out the Government, I was prepared to do either Question; I would just like to register that. But on the question of trade, it is clear from yesterday’s climate-unfriendly Budget that this Government have no climate change ambitions for trade. They are absolutely ignorant about what they need to do. Would the Minister agree?

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

My Lords, I think the noble Baroness is uncharacteristically rather unfair on this matter. I am prepared to repeat again that we are committed to upholding the UK’s high environmental standards. I do not agree with her about the Budget given in the other place by my right honourable friend yesterday. I repeat again: we will continue to pursue the whole range of mechanisms available to us to achieve our ambitions for net zero.

Trade Policy: Environmental Considerations

Debate between Lord Grimstone of Boscobel and Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

Thursday 21st October 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (GP)]

The Minister seems to be ignoring the fact that Australia has much lower food standards—incredibly low. It uses paraquat, which has been banned for years here in Britain, and antibiotics, which are also banned. Of course, we now have a trade deal with New Zealand—are we going to fly those kiwi fruits in? Australia also has incredibly low animal welfare standards. The Minister is ditching our better food for the sake of some boastful statement he can make here in the House.

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

The noble Baroness’s question veers toward the unfair. What do I see when I read the Australia free trade agreement? I see a comprehensive environment chapter with Australia that protects our rights to regulate to meet net zero, sets our shared commitment to building mutually supportive trade and environment policies, and establishes co-operative efforts to support our green economy through trade in a range of areas. That seems to fit the bill.