Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether countries accessing trade preferences under the least developed countries framework, general framework or enhanced framework will be required to effectively implement the 15 core human and labour rights UN/ILO conventions as set out in Annex VIII, Part A of Regulation (EU) No 978/2012.

At the end of the Transition Period, the UK will create its Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), which will replicate the three levels of market access and the ability to temporarily withdraw trade preferences as provided by the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences

Under the UK GSP, trade preferences may be suspended, varied, or withdrawn if countries engage in serious and systematic violations of the human rights and labour rights contained in conventions specified in Annex VIII, Part A of Regulation (EU) No 978/2012, or in the circumstances set out in Chapter V, Article 19 1. (a) – (e) of Regulation (EU) No 978/2012.

Enhanced Framework countries will be required to ratify and effectively implement all 27 international conventions, as is currently set out under Annex VIII, Parts A & B of Regulation (EU) No 978/2012.