MPs should have the power to veto post-Brexit trade deals negotiated by the government, a powerful Commons committee is demanding. The all-party International Trade Committee is calling for a "meaningful vote" on all trade agreements, a demand likely to be firmly rejected by the government.With the vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal currently deadlocked and postponed until next month, the proposal for further Commons votes on trade will dismay ministers.But the committee claims parliament, business, civil society, the devolved administrations and local government should all play a role in any post-Brexit trade policy.In a controversial report, the committee calls for a meaningful role for parliament before, during and after trade agreements and a presumption of transparency in relation to negotiating documents.Scottish National Party MP and arch-Remainer Angus MacNeil, the committee's chairman, said: "The UK is set to begin negotiating its own trade agreements for the first time in 40 … [Read more...] about MPs want ‘meaningful vote’ to be able to veto post-Brexit trade deals
Brexit trade
Switzerland signs off on post-Brexit trade agreement with UK
The Federal Palace of Switzerland in Bern. Photo: AFP Suspicions that Switzerland and the UK have been quietly working behind the scenes to draw up a post-Brexit economics and trade agreement have now been confirmed. On Friday, the Swiss government announced it had signed off on the text of the new agreement it said should form the basis of business and trade relations between the two countries after the UK quits the European Union. “This agreement guarantees, as far as possible, the continuation of the economic and commercial rights and obligations arising from the agreements between Switzerland and the EU,” the Swiss Federal Council said in a statement. Trade between Switzerland and the UK was worth 17.5 billion Swiss francs (€15.5 billion) last year. The UK was Switzerland’s sixth biggest export market in 2017 and its sixth largest direct investor in 2016. Text still under wraps The text of the new agreement remains under wraps for now because the UK … [Read more...] about Switzerland signs off on post-Brexit trade agreement with UK
May’s post-Brexit trade deal suggestion dismissed by Taoiseach
News / UK and world by Press Association December 14, 2018, 5:10 pm FacebookTwitterLinkedInWhatsAppEmail Sign up to our Daily newsletter Ireland’s Taoiseach has dismissed one of Theresa May’s suggestions aimed at winning parliamentary support for her Brexit deal. Leo Varadkar said he could not give Britain a legal assurance around a start date for a post-Brexit trade deal. Such an intervention could help the Prime Minister win over Parliament because it would clarify the date when the Irish border backstop was no longer needed. Mr Varadkar said some of Mrs May’s proposals made sense and others would be “difficult”. “For us to make a legal commitment to have a done deal at a particular moment or time, that is not possible because it is not in our gift to deliver that, we cannot promise anything that is not in our power to deliver.” He said they would begin negotiations on the future relationship as soon as possible … [Read more...] about May’s post-Brexit trade deal suggestion dismissed by Taoiseach
Scottish ministers ‘drawn in’ to post-Brexit trade talks, but won’t get a veto
0 Have your say Scotland will not be given a veto over post-Brexit trade deals between the UK and other countries, but will be “drawn in” to talks as much as possible, ministers have told MPs. Giving evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster, Trade Policy Minister George Hollingberry also said lowering standards for food imports to secure post-Brexit trade agreements would cause “untold damage”. Mr Hollingberry said the UK Government would take devolved needs into account “at every stage and as deeply as is possible” while negotiating new trade deals around the world.“We should be drawing them as closely in as is reasonable to the actual negotiations themselves such that we can have a full and frank exchange of views, so we know what the devolved administrations want,” he said.READ MORE: Brexit: MPs hold government in contempt over legal adviceBut Mr Hollingberry added that a veto for the Scottish … [Read more...] about Scottish ministers ‘drawn in’ to post-Brexit trade talks, but won’t get a veto
British trade minister Fox to visit Israel to push post-Brexit trade
LONDON (Reuters) - British trade minister Liam Fox is visiting Tel Aviv on Tuesday to discuss post-Brexit trade opportunities with major Israeli investors and tech-companies, his office said. The trip will also include a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. Britain is seeking to replicate existing EU free trade agreements and EU preferential arrangements with third countries as it leaves the bloc, including the EU-Israel Association Agreement. "Ensuring continuity for our businesses is the best foundation for growing two-way UK-Israel trade and investment. The complementary nature of our economies in areas like science and technology ... gives us an obvious opportunity," Fox said in a statement ahead of the visit. Britain's Department for International Trade said goods worth $9 billion were traded between Britain and Israel in 2017. (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; editing by Alistair Smout) … [Read more...] about British trade minister Fox to visit Israel to push post-Brexit trade