Trade Agreements: Slavery

(asked on 22nd June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure that supply chains are free of slavery and human trafficking in new trade deals.


Answered by
Ranil Jayawardena Portrait
Ranil Jayawardena
This question was answered on 25th June 2020

The United Kingdom is a trading nation and global value chains drive prosperity, through specialisation, innovation and cheaper products.

We will continue to work with business to fully understand global supply chains that they are part of – and the opportunities to build in further resilience for the future. Our future trade agreement programme will reduce barriers to trading with new markets, and help provide more resilience in doing so. Alongside this, the United Kingdom will tirelessly fight protectionism and unfair trade practices, including through the G20 and in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Britain’s values are clear. We are committed to working with international partners and businesses to tackle modern?slavery?in global supply chains, as HM Government believes it is vital that trade is not based on the exploitation nor abuse of workers.

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