Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the decision to resume the licensing of exports of riot control equipment to the US in June 2020 was primarily based on the conclusion of her Department’s re-assessment of those exports that the entities which had potentially used them during the recent protests in the US had not been responsible for acts of internal repression, as defined in the Consolidated Criteria for Arms Export Licensing and related texts.

The decision to resume was based on the recommendation that there is no clear risk under Criterion 2a of the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria that the items might be used for internal repression.

It is important not to lose sight of the fact that the US remains a beacon for freedom, opportunity and democracy. The US maintains the rule of law and has robust institutions. Further, there is democratic oversight, accountability and extensive public scrutiny, including by an active civil society and free press. Every democracy faces challenges; the key is how they are dealt with.