Written question asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 14 September 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 September 2020. It was answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Conservative) on Tuesday, 22 September 2020 on behalf of the Department for International Trade.

Trade Agreements: Sustainable Development

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to exclude products which are not sustainably produced from future trade deals; and if not, why not.

Answer: While the detail of free trade agreements (FTAs) are reserved for formal negotiations, the United Kingdom has publicly committed to negotiating agreements that protect and maintain our high standards on labour and environment. HM Government has been consistently clear in our published outline approaches to FTAs with the US, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia that we will seek strong provisions on sustainability. We will continue to work closely with international partners and business to ensure that future trade is sustainable and upholds the United Kingdom’s high standards.

Secondary information