Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the potential of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership to help influence future global trade standards.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will see the UK secure its place in a network of countries committed to free trade as part of the rules-based international system. Accession will demonstrate the UK’s place as a nation that champions the removal of barriers in world trade.
CPTPP is designed for expansion, meaning that its rules have the potential to become even further established across key economies in the Asia-Pacific region. This will allow the UK to play a key role in shaping standards for an ambitious agreement that has the potential to increase in global prominence over time.
Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to strengthen the UK's trade relationship with Taiwan.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK remains committed to strengthening its rich and wide-ranging trading relationship with Taiwan. Total trade in goods and services between the UK and Taiwan was £7.0 billion [in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2020]. We are working with Taiwan to increase this further, including through our annual Trade Talks, ministerial engagement, and through engagements by the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Taiwan.
Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to strengthen investment ties between the UK and the Indo-Pacific region.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Strengthening investment ties forms a strategic pillar of the Government’s strategy towards the Indo-Pacific region and will build upon the existing c. £180bn of UK investment in the region, and c. £151bn of Indo-Pacific investment in the UK, both of which deliver jobs and opportunity across the United Kingdom.
Alongside the existing network of dedicated investment support officers, the new Office for Investment provides an improved level of service for the most impactful and complex inward investments from the region. In addition, the UK’s ambitious Free Trade and Market Access activities in the region will foster a more favourable bilateral investment environment.
Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress she has made on negotiating the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
Pursuing potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a priority for the HM Government and is a key part of our trade negotiations programme. We have engaged with all eleven member countries, at both ministerial and official level. Most recently, on 9th September 2020, my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade addressed a United Kingdom-CPTPP Senior Officials’ meeting and all CPTPP members have welcomed our interest in accession. Prior to that, on 10th July 2020, the Secretary of State convened Heads of Mission from all CPTPP countries to discuss the United Kingdom’s potential accession. We will continue to engage all members as we consider our application, an approach that aligns with the accession process for new CPTPP members, which encourages countries to engage informally with every CPTPP member.
Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to improve trading links between the UK and other Commonwealth countries.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The Commonwealth includes some of our closest friends and greatest allies. We share many bonds and I hope the Hon. Gentleman will welcome our commitment to work closely with Commonwealth countries to remove barriers and liberalise the global trading environment.
At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2018, chaired by the United Kingdom, we committed to boosting intra-Commonwealth trade beyond $2 trillion (approximately £1.5 trillion) by 2030. Commonwealth leaders also adopted the ‘Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda for Trade and Investment’ to enhance cooperation amongst ourselves.
In October 2019, the Secretary of State chaired the sixth Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting, which reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s support for free trade and the rules based multilateral trading system. HM Government is also funding several projects including the Commonwealth Trade Facilitation Programme, the Commonwealth Standards Network and the SheTrades Commonwealth Programme.
My department aims to go further in the months and years ahead.
Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, for how long she plans for the Trade and Agriculture Commission to be operational.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Trade and Agriculture Commission has a fixed term of 6 months.
Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the Government's timetable is for bringing forward legislative proposals to end the practice of conversion therapy for members of the LGBT community.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Government takes this issue very seriously and fundamentally disagrees with attempts to forcibly change someone’s sexuality.
In order to end conversion therapy practice for good, we are thoroughly considering all legislative and non-legislative options. As my honourable friend will know, there are certain abhorrent and violent practices which may be classed as conversion therapy, which are already covered by existing criminal offences. Where such practices are already unlawful, we will ensure the law is clear, well understood and enforced. Where dangerous conversion therapy practices are not already unlawful, we are examining the best ways to prevent them being conducted, without sending such practices underground.
We have also commissioned research that looks at the scope of practices and experiences of those subjected to conversion therapy. Once the findings have been reviewed, we will continue engaging other key stakeholders, and ensure we quickly progress an effective approach.
My officials are working at pace on the matter, and we will outline plans to end its practice in due course.
Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans her Department has to explore UK labelling approaches that could be used to promote the standards of agricultural import produce.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
HM Government is committed to world-class food standards. We will consider the full range of measures available to maintain our current levels of protection for consumers and the environment – and enhance consumer choice, including the possibility of labelling, where appropriate. In doing so, we will respect our WTO obligations to make sure that any technical regulations do not create unnecessary obstacles to international trade. British food regulators, such as the Food Standards Agency, will continue to make sure that all food imports comply with British standards.