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Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative). It was answered on Monday, 18 January 2010.


EU: Free Trade Agreements

Question
Will the First Secretary of State accept that on these Benches we strongly support the work of the European Union in negotiating this mutually beneficial trade deal with Peru and Colombia? However, can he explain how the human rights suspension clause will work in practice? Can he give an update on the strong chapter on sustainable development that we all would like to see?
Answer

Once the agreement is negotiated, and assuming that it contains a clause pertaining to human rights which all the participant countries can invoke, it is up to either side if they are so minded, having entered—I hope—into a proper discussion about the questions beforehand, in extremis and as a last resort, to suspend the agreement. However, it is open to either side to do that, not just the EU.


Secondary information

Type
Oral question
Reference
716 c773 
Session
2009-10
Oral question type
Supplementary
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
EU external trade Trade agreements Colombia Peru Free trade
Link
View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk