International Trade Archives

In Focus

UK-China relations: International Relations and Defence Committee report

Monday, 10 October, 2022

The House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee published a report in 2021 calling for the government to produce a “single, coherent China strategy”. The committee report focused on the UK-China security and trade relationship. It concluded that a clear plan was needed on how to balance the UK’s ambition for increased economic engagement with China and the need to protect the UK’s national security and its values.
Research Briefing

Northern Ireland Protocol Bill: HL Bill 52 of 2022–23

Wednesday, 05 October, 2022

The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 11 October 2022. It would exclude some provisions of the Northern Ireland Protocol from applying in domestic law. The government says this is justified by necessity and consistent with international law, but others have disagreed. The bill’s wide use of delegated powers has also been criticised.
In Focus

UK-India trade agreement: Scrutiny of the government’s negotiating objectives

Wednesday, 17 August, 2022

The UK and India are currently negotiating a free trade agreement. In July 2022, the House of Lords International Agreements Committee published a report on the government’s negotiating objectives. The report welcomed the aspiration to secure a trade deal with India. However, the committee was critical of some aspects of the negotiating objectives as vague, high level and, in some cases, unachievable. The report also criticised the speed of the negotiations, which the government wants to complete by October 2022.
In Focus

Impact of Ukrainian port blockade on food supply to developing countries

Thursday, 14 July, 2022

Russian forces continue to blockade Ukrainian ports, preventing the export of grain and other foodstuffs. Food supplies from Ukraine and Russia are vital to many developing countries including many in the Horn and East of Africa, which are at significant risk of famine because of the blockade and other global pressures. The UK has joined other international actors in calling for the blockade to end and safe exports routes established.
In Focus

UK-Australia free trade agreement

Tuesday, 05 July, 2022

The UK-Australia free trade agreement is the first trade agreement that the UK has negotiated from scratch since leaving the EU. Whilst the government’s impact assessment suggests the economic benefit to the UK’s GDP is likely to be modest, the government has described the agreement as “historic”. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has welcomed the agreement but has suggested that its scope had been traded off for achieving an agreement quickly.
In Focus

Musicians: Working and touring in the European Union

Friday, 01 July, 2022

Since Brexit, UK musicians and creative professionals no longer have free movement rights to travel and work across the EU. The EU and the UK have both said that they put forward proposals to prevent this outcome, but they could not come to an agreement. Several commentators have argued that the restrictions are having a negative impact. The government has said that it is committed to supporting UK creative industries and is “clarifying arrangements” with the EU and working with member states to make touring easier.
In Focus

International Agreements Committee report on improving the framework for the parliamentary scrutiny of treaties

Monday, 16 May, 2022

In September 2021, the House of Lords International Agreements Committee published a report on its experiences scrutinising agreements under the current statutory framework for treaty scrutiny. Among its recommendations, the committee called for government commitments on scrutiny working practices made since April 2020 to be consolidated in a formal concordat. The committee also asked the government to commit to giving it more notice of both treaties set to be laid before Parliament and significant other agreements.
In Focus

Queen’s Speech 2022: International trade

Thursday, 05 May, 2022

Ahead of the Queen’s Speech on 10 May 2022, this In Focus sets out some of the Government’s current trade priorities. It also includes an overview of current trade negotiations, parliamentary scrutiny of agreements and the potential need for implementing legislation.
In Focus

Queen’s Speech 2022: Brexit—Retained EU law and the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland

Thursday, 05 May, 2022

The Government is planning to make significant changes to the legal status of retained EU law and the post-Brexit regulatory landscape. This would be through a ‘Brexit Freedoms Bill’ and standalone legislation in areas such as procurement and data protection. There is also speculation the Government may introduce a bill to override parts of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.
In Focus

UK trade with Russia

Tuesday, 01 March, 2022

In 2021, the UK had a trade deficit with Russia of over £5 billion. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the UK has imposed a range of economic sanctions on Russia. This article presents data on UK-Russia trade and summarises the sanctions legislation.
- In Focus
- International Trade
In Focus

Impact of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland on recent political developments in Northern Ireland

Monday, 28 February, 2022

Amid ongoing objections to the protocol from unionist parties, Northern Ireland’s First Minister recently resigned. This followed an attempt by the Minister for Agriculture, currently subject to legal challenge, to halt checks required by the protocol on goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain. This article considers the Government’s assessment of the protocol’s impact on recent political developments in Northern Ireland ahead of a debate in the House of Lords.
In Focus

UK membership of the trans-Pacific trade agreement

Wednesday, 26 January, 2022

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a free trade agreement between 11 countries. The UK has applied to join CPTPP. This briefing summarises the House of Lords International Agreements Committee’s report on the UK’s negotiating objectives for CPTPP, and the Government’s response.
In Focus

UK relations with Qatar

Monday, 17 January, 2022

In recent years, Qatar has experienced significant tensions with its Gulf neighbours following its support for controversial regional actors, including Iran. Following a resolution in early 2021, relations have improved, though a rapprochement with some countries remains slow. The UK enjoys a good relationship with Qatar and recently issued a joint communique with the Gulf Cooperation Council on strengthening ties with the region. However, observers have continued to raise concerns regarding human rights in Qatar, and the treatment of migrant workers ahead of the forthcoming World Cup.
Research Briefing

Subsidy Control Bill

Thursday, 13 January, 2022

The bill would establish a new domestic subsidy control regime following the UK’s departure from the EU. It sets out principles and other requirements for public authorities to comply with when giving subsidies, as well as oversight and enforcement mechanisms. The bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 19 January 2022.
In Focus

Farming: labour shortages and new trade deals

Thursday, 06 January, 2022

This article considers recent labour shortages in the farming and food sectors, and the potential impact on farming of the UK’s new trade deals with Australia and New Zealand.

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