Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government’s policy on freeports forms part of the negotiating mandate for UK negotiators.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
Freeports will be national hubs for international trade, innovation and commerce, attracting new businesses, spreading jobs, and bringing investment to towns and cities across the country.
Our approach to trade negotiations with the US, Australia, New Zealand and to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is published on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
What steps his Department plans to take to provide hon. Members with economic impact assessments prior to the approval of negotiating mandates for future trade deals and to keep hon. Members informed of progress with such deals.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In ratifying EU free trade agreements we provide impact assessments to Parliament to enable Members from both Houses to consider the consequences of these agreements for the UK.
As outlined in the White Paper ‘Preparing for our future UK trade policy’, we remain committed to a transparent, fair, and rules-based approach to international trade. We will ensure Parliament has an appropriate role to play in the scrutiny of new UK trade treaties.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 12 October 2016 to Question 47347, whether during those discussions concerns were raised by Japanese investors and the Japanese ambassador about the UK's decision to leave the EU; and whether any conditions were placed on continued Japanese investment in the UK.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
A range of topics have been discussed with the Ambassador of Japan to the United Kingdom and Japanese investors, notably the Japanese memorandum and the opportunities presented by the United Kingdom exiting the European Union to strengthen its role as a global leader for free trade, including its trade links with Japan.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with representatives of Japanese businesses operating in the UK on the memorandum presented by the Japanese government to the Prime Minister at the recent G20 summit.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Ministers and senior Government officials have held regular discussions with Japanese investors operating in the UK since the referendum in June. This continued after the Japanese Government published their memorandum on 2 September. My Rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and my Noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade Policy have met with the Ambassador of Japan to the United Kingdom Mr Koji Tsuruoka. On 4 October my Noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade Policy met Japanese investors to hear their views and my Hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Trade also met Japanese investors while in Japan on 5-6 October.