International Trade Committee to scrutinise trade talks with Gulf and Pacific nations

The International Trade Committee is to investigate prospective trade agreements with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

In two new inquiries, the Committee will explore the Government’s respective negotiating objectives, investigate the impacts on businesses and consumers, and scrutinise the text of trade agreements.

In March 2021, the Government’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development, and Foreign Policy identified trade with the Gulf states as a means to support the levelling-up agenda in the UK, and to further the UK’s security objectives in the region.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political and economic union that consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The Government has signalled its intention to negotiate a trade agreement with the GCC. The Committee’s inquiry will scrutinise these negotiations, with a particular interest in how an agreement will affect people and businesses across the UK, the likely economic, social and environmental impacts, and how a free trade agreement could further the UK’s strategic objectives in the region.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a free trade agreement between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam. The agreement was signed in March 2018.

The Government has signalled its intention to join CPTPP in 2022, following the UK’s attendance at the first meeting of the CPTPP Accession Working Group in September 2021.

The Committee will explore the Government’s strategic approach and scrutinise its negotiating objectives as well as the final text and provisions of the accession agreement.

The Committee is particularly interested in the impact on UK consumers and businesses, and the likely economic, social and environmental impacts of the agreement.

Commenting on the inquiry launches, Angus Brendan MacNeil MP, International Trade Committee Chair, said:

“Today, we are launching two new inquiries to examine the Government’s progress at it looks to meet its aims of joining the CPTPP and signing a trade deal with the GCC nations.

“We will explore the Government’s negotiating objectives and approach and take evidence on the environmental, economic and social impacts of the deals secured.

“It is important that Parliament has time to thoroughly scrutinise these trade deals. As a Committee, we will continue to push the Government to ensure MPs have sufficient time to investigate agreements and their ramifications.”

The inquiries sit alongside the Committee’s work into UK trade negotiations and agreement with New Zealand.