Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential effect of investor state dispute settlement provisions in the CPTPP on business in the UK.

Investment protection provisions protect investors and their investments against discrimination, unfair treatment and expropriation of their assets without due process or compensation. Investor state dispute settlement provisions exist to protect British businesses and investments abroad, including pension funds and small and medium sized enterprises.

The UK already has investor-dispute settlement mechanisms in place with 90 countries and has never been taken to a tribunal using these mechanisms. Accession to Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will help to secure the UK’s already strong position in investment.