Trade and the Environment: MPs unpack Government response to inquiry
MPs will discuss the Government’s response to its trade and the environment inquiry with experts and business representatives at 10.00am on Wednesday 1 March.
The inquiry, which explored how far the UK’s current approach to trade reflects its net zero ambitions, received concerns that the UK’s record on environmental commitments in trade deals has so far been mixed, posing a serious risk to the maintenance of the UK’s high environmental standards.
Examples include indications that the UK watered down its climate asks in the text of the UK-Australia trade agreement in order to secure the deal, and missed opportunities to assess potential costs to the environment as a result of the UK-New Zealand deal.
Likely areas of questioning
In the first panel with experts, MPs are likely to explore Government policy and whether the Government has maintained environmental standards while negotiating the UK’s new trade deals, what environmental ‘red lines’ should look like in future negotiations, and how trade policy can best tackle carbon leakage – the undermining of strict UK emissions standards through offshoring to countries with lower standards.
A second panel will then be held to seek the perspective of representatives from British industry. UK Steel and the Mineral Products Association will likely discuss the significance for UK businesses of environmental provisions in free trade deals, and the ramifications for the sector of future deals liberalising trade with countries with different environmental standards.