Japan Free Trade Agreement

Christian Matheson Excerpts
Monday 14th September 2020

(4 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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The deal will, in essence, underwrite digital and data flows between the UK and Japan, so there will be no requirements such as data localisation and we will uphold the principles of net neutrality and enable the free flow of data. It will mean that brilliant companies, such as those in my hon. Friend’s constituency, will be able to sell their products into Japan without hinderance.

Christian Matheson Portrait Christian Matheson (City of Chester) (Lab)
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Further to the question from the hon. Member for Stirling (Alyn Smith), if the FT article is correct, the Government have, in this deal, signed up to more restrictive conditions on state aid than those being negotiated with the European Union. Will the Secretary of State confirm that the negotiations with the EU are all about deterring it from reaching a deal so that it will walk away, and we can then blame it for no deal and not take the hit that would otherwise be aimed at the Government?