SpeechesTrade

Nick Thomas-Symonds – 2021 Comments on UK Trade Agreements

The comments made by Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade, on 8 December 2021.

The 2019 Conservative manifesto promised to negotiate a number of free trade agreements, including with the United States, within three years.

Time is ticking down and Ministers have not even identified the resources they need to implement existing agreements and conduct other negotiations at the same time. This is letting down UK workers and businesses.

Not only that, it is deeply concerning that the devolved administrations do not have the information they need to consider trade deals, this is extremely incompetent.

Ministers must get a grip of this and act urgently. Promoting British jobs and standards around the world should be a top priority.