Secret meetings and closed doors - it’s time for change

Trade impacts everything – from food to health and even our jobs. However, the UK Government’s approach to trade has largely been kept a secret, with negotiations hidden behind closed doors and the resulting deals often unchecked or scrutinised. A new Government brings the opportunity for change.

The problem

Trade deals are legally binding. Yet, unlike new laws which are scrutinised and debated multiple times in both the House of Common and House of Lords before they are passed, trade deals are barely given a look over.

A very small number of civil servants and government officials can (and do) decide who to negotiate trade deals with, what the priorities for these negotiations should be, and conclude and sign the final deal.

Despite the overarching impacts of these deals, the public, academics and experts, and even most MPs are kept in the dark. It is worth noting that technically parliament have to ratify agreed trade deals, but in practice MPs are not even guaranteed a vote on whether to approve or reject trade deals.

It’s not just us who recognises this is as problem. Five separate parliamentary committees have found the UK’s processes for parliamentary scrutiny to be wholly inadequate. Pledges to ensure opportunities for meaningful engagement with negotiations have not been met.

The solution

It’s time for change. The new Government must overhaul the process by which trade deals are written to make sure they are open, inclusive and transparent. This looks like:

• MPs, civil society and the public having the opportunities to meaningfully input into the proposed objectives (before negotiations begin) as well as the negotiations.

• Comprehensive and independent assessments of the social and environmental impacts of trade agreements, undertaken early with the ability to change the direction of negotiations in response to their findings.  

• A presumption of transparency in negotiations.

• The establishment of a House of Commons committee dedicated to the scrutiny of new international treaties.

• A proper scrutiny role for parliament, including a full Parliamentary debate on new trade agreements and the ability to amend, approve or reject agreements. 

Change is urgently needed to ensure that the trade system benefits families and communities everywhere. We call on the new Government to start by setting a process for trade scrutiny.