Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment the Government has made of the implications for its policies of the European Commission communication to the World Trade Organization Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (IP/C/W/680) on the 4 June 2021.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The United Kingdom is currently assessing the proposal submitted by the European Union to the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Council. The Government welcomes alternative proposals for the TRIPS Council’s consideration. It is important to find an effective, balanced, and targeted outcome. The Government will continue to engage in IP discussions and review the merits of any proposal submitted to the TRIPS Council, but the UK must continue to push ahead with pragmatic action now, including voluntary licensing and technology transfer agreements for vaccines, support for Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access, and solutions for production bottlenecks and supply chain issues.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if the Government will publish its statements made on the proposed TRIPS Waiver during the open-ended negotiations on (a) 30 June and (b) 6 July 2021.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK has engaged regularly in debates at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Council and other international institutions to promote affordable and equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines for all. The Government respects the informal format of WTO discussions and does not publish proceedings from those meetings. However, at the informal TRIPS Council on 30 June and 6 July, the UK sought to further understand the parameters of the proposed waiver and the European Union proposal by asking for clarifications. This remains consistent with the Government’s approach to encourage evidence-based discussions between WTO Members to find solutions to present issues within the multilateral Intellectual Property framework.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the World Trade Organisation's Agreement for the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), what the Government's policy is on (a) the proposed WTO TRIPS Waiver and (b) allowing other governments to use a waiver in their domestic contexts.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer the Hon. Member for Norwich South to the answer given to the Hon. Gentleman for Birkenhead on 17 May 2021: UIN: 448.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions she has had with UK trade partners on inserting clauses on environmental standards into future trade deals.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We are seeking environment provisions with all partners we are currently negotiating with, to ensure future trade is sustainable and upholds the UK’s high environmental standards. The precise details of any free trade agreement are a matter for formal negotiations, and I would not seek to pre-empt these discussions.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the evidential basis is for the Government's policy position that the proposed WTO TRIPS Waiver proposal will undermine biomedical innovation.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer the Hon. Member for Norwich South to the answer I gave to him on 15 February 2021, UIN: 149802.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect of its policy on the World Trade Organisation's TRIPS Waiver proposal on the effectiveness of the UK's Presidency of the G7 and its ability to meet the objective of supporting future pandemic preparedness.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK works closely with its G7 partners on all aspects of future pandemic preparedness, including work at the World Trade Organisation.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many meetings the Government has had with pharmaceutical industry representatives on the TRIPS Waiver proposal; and what the feedback was from industry on the TRIPS Waiver proposal at those meetings.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government meets regularly with representatives of the pharmaceutical industry to discuss a wide range of topics.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the Government's policy is on the proposed WTO TRIPS Waiver and the use of that waiver by foreign Governments.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer the Hon. Member for Norwich South to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for North East Fife on 25 November 2020, UIN: 115822.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will publish statements made by the Government related to the proposed TRIPS Waiver at the World Trade Organisation TRIPS Council Meeting on 4 February 2021.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK has engaged regularly in debates at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) TRIPS Council and other international institutions to promote affordable and equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines, including in developing countries. We respect the informal format of WTO discussions and do not publish proceedings from those meetings. However, at the informal TRIPS Council on 4 February 2021, the UK sought to further understand the parameters of the proposed waiver and asked for clarifications from the waiver’s proponents. This remains consistent with the Government’s approach to encourage evidence-based discussions between WTO Members to find solutions to present issues within the multilateral intellectual property framework.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2021 to Question 137976, whether UK Export Finance carried an assessment of the environmental impact of EasyJet and British Airways activity when deciding whether to provide those companies with support.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
UK Export Finance conducted and documented a review of climate change considerations for each case, proportionate to the climate risks and impacts of each transaction.