Pacific Alliance report debated by Lords

• Report: The UK's relationship with the Pacific Alliance (HTML)
• Report: The UK's relationship with the Pacific Alliance (PDF)
• Government Response: The UK's relationship with the Pacific Alliance
• Inquiry: Pacific Alliance
• International Relations and Defence Committee

The Committee's report concluded that strong relations with Pacific Alliance countries will be invaluable should the UK seek to boost its trade with the Asia-Pacific region, including membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The Committee also concluded that the wider Latin American region is an increasingly important part of the global economy, and expressed concerns that the UK's current levels of trade with the region is extremely low.

The Committee identified several areas where the Government's engagement with the countries of the Pacific Alliance need to be improved. Ministerial visits to the region have declined and the Committee urged the Government to restore previous levels of engagement. The Committee also expressed concern about the level of support given to UK-based businesses by the Department for International Trade, particularly on language skills, and urged the Government to consider greater visa liberalisation for visitors from Colombia and Peru.

Speakers in the debate:

Lord Howell of Guildford, former Chairman of the International Relations Committee, will open the debate. Other Members of the House of Lords who are due to speak in the debate can be viewed on the Speaker's Lists .

Further Information

• About Parliament: Select Committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch Committees