Briefings Briefing for MPs for second reading of the Trade Bill, 9 January 2018
Briefing for MPs for second reading of the Trade Bill, 9 January 2018
Trade has the potential to impact on environmental protections and standards due to the wide reaching nature of many trade agreements. In order to secure a world-class environment, it is vital that UK trade policy does not result in a reduction in environmental standards and protections or in an unacceptable global sustainability footprint. Therefore, Greener UK believes that the Trade Bill needs amending to ensure that:
– Parliament’s role in setting mandates for trade negotiations and having robust scrutiny of trade deals, including public consultation, is legally defined.
– The UK’s trade agreements are underpinned by high environmental standards as an essential condition for market access.
– No trade agreement will impact on the UK’s ability to ratify and properly implement international treaties eg the Paris Agreement or CITES.
– Sustainability impact assessments are carried out before entering trade negotiations or negotiations to replicate existing trade agreements and during the negotiation process.
