14 Accepted

We asked what the Department was doing to measure the actual benefits of trade agreements.

Conclusion
We asked what the Department was doing to measure the actual benefits of trade agreements. The Department told us that it is committed to monitoring and evaluating the impacts of agreements.33 For example, it has committed to publishing monitoring reports for the Australia and Japan agreements two years after they enter into force and 26 C&AG’s Report, para 4.2 and Figure 13 27 Q 81 28 Qq 34, 81 29 C&AG’s report, para 4.2; Qq 16, 30, 73 30 Qq 4, 10 31 Q 4 32 Qq 27, 30 33 Q 30, 34, 54 Progress with trade negotiations 13 evaluating the agreements within five years.34 The Department said it recognises that it will be challenging to deliver the forecast impacts and ensure the agreements are being used by businesses.35 Use by businesses
Government Response Summary
The department publishes detailed impact assessments and will publish monitoring reports to inform on progress and actual benefits of FTAs.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government Accepted
2.2 However, the department publishes detailed impact assessments that set out its expectations against a wide range of criteria of what the impact of FTAs will be. In addition, the department will publish monitoring reports which will provide DIT’s analytical evidence base to inform Parliament, the public and other interested stakeholders on progress and actual benefits.
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age 4.2 yrs
Report published 18 Mar 2022