@sophieandrewsmcc.bsky.social
Policy Analyst, International Agreements Committee, House of Lords | 💕cycle lanes |
Link to the call for evidence:
committees.parliament.uk/work/9341/uk...
The International Agreements Committee has launched its inquiry looking at the terms of the UK-India FTA.
The Committee is seeking views on the implications for sectors across the UK, as well as the economic, social, environmental and geopolitical implications.
The letter urges the Government to avoid signing up to vague commitments on US supply chain security requirements and economic security, and to ensure it retains flexibility to negotiate with other trading partners.
24.07.2025 09:57 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0The UK-US 'deal' provides welcome relief for industry, but poses risks to multilateral system, the letter says. It offers considerations for Government in its ongoing engagement with the US in relation to trade, based on a recent short inquiry.
24.07.2025 09:57 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
The Chair of the International Agreements Committee has written to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade about the 'General Terms' for the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal published in May.
committees.parliament.uk/work/9231/ge...
The International Agreements Committee is taking evidence on the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership, incl on:
❓What will change as a result of this treaty?
❓Future in NATO for Ukraine?
❓How does this treaty relate to the issue of security guarantees?
🔗to submit:
committees.parliament.uk/work/8955/
The UK parliament has joined Bluesky, with proper verified domains and everything:
• @houseofcommons.parliament.uk
• @houseoflords.parliament.uk
• @ukparliament.parliament.uk
• @commonsspeaker.parliament.uk
The report also includes recommendations on:
✅ EU data adequacy
✅The use of source code provisions in FTAs
✅ Cooperation with international partners on issues ranging from emerging tech, electronic trade documents & regulating personal data
✅ Stakeholder engagement
The International Agreements Committee today publishes its report on Data and Digital Trade!
The report stresses the importance of working with international partners to develop common rules on digital trade, building on progress at WTO.
Read more: committees.parliament.uk/work/8432/da...
🔗Link to IAC WTO Session with Simon Manley, Permanent Representative, UK Mission to WTO & Claire Vince
Director of Global Trade and Delivery at Department for Business and Trade
Transcript available soon
committees.parliament.uk/event/22387/...
Challenges?
🤝Agreement is difficult. Some members treat consensus rule as unanimity requirement.
🙋UK advocates "responsible consensus" as a solution.
👨⚖️Disputes being appealed "into the void". Active discussion in government currently re solutions/MPIA
committees.parliament.uk/event/22387/...
UK's priorities at the WTO:
🐟Entry into force of Fisheries Agreement (stage 1 agreement)
🐠Reach agreement on Fisheries 2
👨⚖️progress on dispute settlement reform (joining MPIA "under active consideration")
🛜progress on E-Commerce JSI adoption/implementation
🧑⚕️On Tuesday, Simon Manley, Perm Rep to WTO told the Committee that "we shouldn't underestimate the health of the organisation" and that "the resilience of rules and processes remains important"
Despite obstacles, there is a determination to pursue action within the WTO, he said.
This week on International Agreements Committee:
🌎Secretary of State Jonathan Reynolds stressed UK exposure in event of US-China trade war
(& trailed restarting of India trade talks announced later that evening)
committees.parliament.uk/event/22380/...
DIGITAL TRADE: The International Agreements Committee will this afternoon hear from RT Hon Douglas Alexander, Minister for Trade, DBT and Baroness Jones, Digital Minister in DSIT.
This wraps up the IAC's short inquiry into Data & Digital Trade.
Watch from 4pm 👇
parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...
🌏Peru has ratified UK membership of CPTPP - the 6th country to do so (& final needed), triggering UK accession from 15 Dec 2024.
The International Agreements Committee reported on CPTPP accession in Feb, calling for effective implementation of the agreement.
Read more 👇
tinyurl.com/yb8b63rs
The IAC is seeking a specialist adviser to offer expertise on new trade agreements & policy on a flexible basis throughout the next parliament.
An exciting opportunity to shape the future direction of the Committee's work on trade! Apply by 9 September.
committees.parliament.uk/committee/44...
The Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee has released its report on treaty scrutiny in the 21st century this morning. Radical reform is proposed. Well worth a read:
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
The International Agreements Committee has launched a call for evidence on the UK-Rwanda asylum treaty:
❓Does the treaty address Supreme Court concerns?
❓How strong are the protections for relocated persons?
❓Views on the enforcement mechanism?
❓Precedents?
Read more 👇
t.co/p5D4yhfJ2k
