Trade Agreements: Climate Change

(asked on 25th January 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to use free trade agreements as a means of furthering climate change objectives; and what examples they can provide of having done so in recently-concluded trade agreements, including rollover trade agreements.


This question was answered on 8th February 2021

In our outline approaches to free trade agreements (FTAs) with the US, New Zealand, and Australia, we have committed to securing provisions that will help trade in low carbon goods and services, supporting innovation in sectors such as offshore wind, smart energy systems, low-carbon advisory services, and energy from waste. Our FTAs will also underpin international cooperation in research and development, and reaffirm the United Kingdom’s sovereign right to regulate in pursuit of net zero by 2050.

The recently concluded United Kingdom-EU trade agreement confirms both Parties’ commitments to key international climate agreements and includes other important commitments, such as promoting trade-related aspects of climate change policies in international fora. Our continuity FTAs have sought to replicate the effects of the EU’s agreements too, including provisions on climate change.

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