Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the effect on World Trade Organisation rules of using national security as a reason to impose trade barriers.
The Government believes it is right that WTO members can, via application of the Article XXI exemption, apply certain protections for the protection of security interests. Moreover, it is right that channels exist under WTO rules to challenge the application of Article XXI exemptions. The Government assesses each case on its merits.