Trade Negotiations

Lord Bishop of Manchester Excerpts

Tuesday 13th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Gustafsson (Lab)]

I hear the noble Baroness’s frustration. We want businesses in Northern Ireland to be able to benefit from this to the fullest extent that they can, and that is absolutely what we expect here. Businesses in Northern Ireland, exporting their goods and services will benefit from this free trade agreement, just as businesses elsewhere within the United Kingdom will. Businesses exporting from Northern Ireland will therefore benefit from the free trade agreement with India, so this should be a good news story. When we think about businesses importing into Northern Ireland from India—India-originating goods entering Northern Ireland—they will do so under the terms of this free trade agreement provided that those goods are not at risk of entering the EU. This is where the Windsor Framework kicks in, making sure that, under the usual process of the Windsor Framework, that is protected. Businesses operating within Northern Ireland will benefit from the terms of the free trade agreement.

[The Lord Bishop of Manchester]

My Lords, I too welcome both trade agreements in recent weeks and congratulate His Majesty’s Government on achieving them. I know that in my diocese in Manchester, the large Indian diaspora community will be working hard to help British exports where they have improved opportunities.

I am not sure that the Minister quite answered the question from the Liberal Democrat Front Bench, with references to human rights and climate change. I want to widen that slightly with regard to the upcoming trade strategy that the Statement referred to and ask whether there is any ethical component to it? Will moral considerations play any part in negotiating the trade agreements, or is trade, in effect, an ethics-free zone?

[Baroness Gustafsson (Lab)]

On the environmental aspect, this is India’s first ever chapter on the environment within a free trade agreement and it goes further into this area than it has ever gone before. The agreement requires India to promote high and continually improving levels of environmental protection, reaffirms our joint commitment to the Paris agreement and strengthens environmental standards through non-derogation commitments. It is a big first step, but a free trade agreement cannot fix all environmental issues. Those are most effectively tackled when we work directly and closely with our partners through this international approach. Having a deal like this solidifies our relationship and provides much broader access and opportunity to exert that influence.