Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether he plans for human rights monitoring and co-operation to form part of any future trade agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Sri Lanka exports to the UK under the EU's unilateral trade arrangement, the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+). The Government intends to provide continuity and stability whilst leaving the EU, which includes maintaining the effects of our trading relationships as we leave. This includes the EU's GSP scheme, and our trading terms with Sri Lanka, including on human rights. When the UK has left the EU, we can look to improve on those trading agreements.