Trade Negotiations Update
Written statement by , Secretary of State For
International Trade
The first round of United Kingdom-Israel Free Trade Agreement
negotiations took place between 12 and 20 September.
In parallel, the third round of United Kingdom-Canada Free Trade
Agreement negotiations commenced on 12 September and concluded on
16 September.
Following the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, these
rounds proceeded, with appropriate adjustments.
The round of negotiations with Israel was conducted in a hybrid
fashion; a small group of United Kingdom officials travelled to
Jerusalem for in-person discussions, with further officials
attending virtually from the United Kingdom. During this initial
round, talks focused on gathering insights on key interests and
priorities across policy areas as well as building a shared
understanding of each other’s initial positions. Technical
discussions focused on 29 policy areas in over 50 sessions.
A new agreement with Israel – with services and innovation at its
heart - will build upon our existing Trade and Partnership
Agreement. It will cement our relationship with a rapidly growing
economy and take our trading relationship to the next level. It
will support United Kingdom jobs, and update outdated trade
rules, unleashing our high-tech innovative economies.
The negotiations with Canada were conducted in a fully virtual
format. Technical discussions were held across 26 policy areas
across over 50 separate sessions.
Talks focused on reaffirming the United Kingdom’s positions,
having tabled and presented text across the majority of chapters
in the previous round. The United Kingdom’s negotiating team made
progress on understanding areas of policy convergence and
divergence with Canada. They agreed text where possible and in
the United Kingdom’s interests and objectives to support economic
growth.
The negotiations continue to reflect a shared ambition to secure
a progressive deal which looks to build on the United
Kingdom-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement, and strengthens our
existing trading relationship, already worth over £21 billion in
2021.
We are clear that any deals we sign will be in the best interests
of the British people and the United Kingdom economy. We will not
compromise on our high environmental and labour protections,
public health, animal welfare and food standards, and we will
maintain our right to regulate in the public interest. We are
also clear that during these negotiations, the NHS and the
services it provides is not on the table.
We are working towards holding a second and fourth round of
negotiations with Israel and Canada respectively in due course.
Parliament will be kept updated as these negotiations progress.
