9 Accepted

We welcome the commitment that the Minister made to ensuring that UK trade deals protect...

Conclusion
We welcome the commitment that the Minister made to ensuring that UK trade deals protect the natural environment through a non-regression obligation on relevant regulations and standards that is enforceable with sanctions for non-compliance. We call upon the UK Government to include such provisions in future FTAs to help ensure that trade partners do not competitively undercut UK producers by deregulating environmental protections. We call upon the UK Government to include such provisions in future FTAs to help ensure that trade partners do not competitively undercut UK producers by deregulating environmental protections
Government Response Summary
The government states that the UK-Australia FTA includes enforceable commitments to ensure neither country can derogate from environmental laws to promote trade and that it will seek similar commitments in future FTAs.
Paragraph Reference
66
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government Accepted
The UK-Australia FTA includes commitments to ensure that neither Australia nor the UK can derogate from, waive, or fail to enforce their domestic environmental laws in order to promote trade or investment. These are enforceable commitments with recourse to dispute settlement mechanisms if needed. The UK-Australia and UK-New Zealand free trade agreements include commitments to address climate change. The UK publishes its negotiating approach for each FTA negotiation prior to the start of talks, including on its approach on the environment. As the UK has agreed similar provisions with New Zealand, the Government will further seek similar commitments and provisions in future FTAs.
Timeline
Recommendation age 4.0 yrs
Report published 17 Jun 2022