Minister of State for Trade Policy questioned

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• Inquiry: EU Withdrawal
• European Scrutiny Committee

Purpose of the Session

The evidence session focuses on the Committee's ongoing scrutiny of EU trade and investment legislation in the context of the UK's withdrawal from the EU. Key areas to be covered are likely to include:  

• The Irish border – how the options being presented to resolve the 'border problem', in particular the 'backstop' arrangements and longer-term customs and regulatory alignment arrangements could impact the UK's ability to operate an independent trade policy and their practical effect on third countries' willingness to negotiate and conclude new trade agreements with the UK;
• The continuity of bilateral trade relations after UK exit and the negotiation and conclusion of new trade deals;
• WTO negotiations, focusing on the progress made and potential risks ahead in the UK separating out its trading commitments to other WTO members from the EU's overall commitments;
• The Government's intended approach to trade remedies in the run up to EU exit and post-exit; and
• Parliamentary scrutiny of EU-negotiated trade and investment deals up to 29 March 2019 and during any transition/implementation period, and UK-negotiated new trade deals post-exit.

Witnesses

Tuesday 3 July 2018, Committee Room 18, Palace of Westminster

At 2.15pm

• George Hollingbery, Minister of State for Trade Policy
• Crawford Falconer, Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser and Second Permanent Secretary for the Department for International Trade

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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