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EU Trade Policy: EUC Report

My Lords, I thank everyone who has taken part in the debate for their very thoughtful contributions. In particular, I thank my noble friend Lord Mandelson. Most of us who have spoken in this debate had thought about trade, had taken evidence on trade and had read about trade, but my noble friend Lord Mandelson has actually done it—he has done the negotiations and the hard graft, and it is extremely valuable to have that experience. My noble friend has not been able to give us any real reassurance on when negotiations can restart, or their likely success when they do. As he rightly pointed out, there are many difficulties in front of us—quite as many as when the talks failed to conclude in 2008. I am well aware that in urging him to keep going I am preaching not only to the converted but probably also to the "saved" in this context. However, we all need international trade. If the opinion of this House can add any weight to my noble friend’s elbow in deliberations, we are absolutely in favour and wish him well in any negotiations, in the hope that he can get this round started again. Motion agreed.