Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in negotiations towards a Free Trade Agreement between the UK and Mexico.

Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Negotiations between the UK and Mexico have been positive so far, with a clear mutual intention to pursue a Free Trade Agreement which can complement and build on our new trade arrangements as members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. We have held three rounds of negotiations, with the latest taking place in May.

We look forward to concluding negotiations at the earliest opportunity. However, we want to make sure any new trade deal adds value to the UK economy and meets our trade policy objectives. We are prepared to take the time necessary to deliver that.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have set a date for beginning the dialogue on human rights between the UK and Mexico which both Governments agreed should be conducted in parallel with negotiations towards a Free Trade Agreement.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

We have not yet set a date for a formal bilateral human rights dialogue with Mexico, however we continue to engage regularly on human rights and related issues with Mexican authorities at ministerial and official level. Most recently, on 19 June, the Minister for the Americas, David Rutley MP, spoke with the Mexican Undersecretary for Human Rights and Multilateral Affairs, Eduardo Jaramillo, and reiterated the UK's desire to formalise these conversations through the inaugural human rights dialogue.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will take steps with her Mexican counterpart to include measures on the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications in a free trade agreement with that country.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

We are looking to enhance our existing trading relationship with Mexico through a modern free trade agreement which secures additional benefits for the whole of the UK. We do not pursue the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications in our trade agreements. However, we will be seeking commitments to facilitate the mutual recognition of professional qualifications such as for architecture and audit. As well as other measures which reduce trade barriers and provide certainty for the UK’s world-leading higher education service suppliers.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in negotiating a new trade agreement with Mexico; and when they expect an agreement to be reached.

Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

We have an ambitious programme of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations to help our nation become a truly Global Britain. We have completed two rounds of negotiations with Mexico, and three rounds of negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council. The fifth round of negotiations with Canada concluded on 24 March.

We look forward to concluding negotiations at the earliest opportunity, but it is the substance of trade deals that is important, not the timing.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many officials in her Department are working on trade negotiations with Mexico.

Answered by Conor Burns

The Department for International Trade (DIT) operates a flexible resourcing model to maximise efficiency across our Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. The Department is currently delivering seven FTA negotiations and the number of staff working on these at any point in time will change depending on the stage and scale of the deal. Staff also often work across multiple negotiations so it is not possible to quantify the number for each negotiation.

As of August 2022, DIT had approximately 460 staff working in the Trade Negotiations Group. This figure does not include other staff in DIT who also contribute to trade negotiations.

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that the Mexican Government takes steps to tackle violations of (a) freedom of association and (b) other International Labour Organisation before finalising a trade deal with that country; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Ranil Jayawardena

The United Kingdom has a trade deal with Mexico, which is supporting jobs in communities across our country.

HM Government has announced plans to negotiate a new trade deal, so asked the British people, British businesses and other organisations for their views, including on issues such as labour. We are analysing the responses in advance of setting a mandate.

HM Government has made clear that trade does not have to come at the expense of our values, and this is reflected in British trade policy.