Sir Crawford Falconer to give evidence to Lords committee on UK trade strategy

Tomorrow, the House of Lords International Agreements Committee will continue its inquiry into how the UK should deploy its trade instruments by hearing evidence from Sir Crawford Falconer KCMG, the UK's former Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser and Former Second Permanent Secretary at the UK Department for Business and Trade. 

Questions the committee is likely to ask include: 

• Which trade agreements the UK has signed best support trade in areas of comparative advantage for the UK, such as services? 

• Which sectors and partner countries should the UK be prioritising for trade negotiations and agreements? 

• What risks are associated with a move away from comprehensive, binding free trade agreements? 

• How should the UK best foster a skilled and experienced trade negotiating profession, and how should these resources best be deployed, particularly in the context of headcount reductions? 

• What do you view as the benefits and risks of the UK's approach to trade with the US at present? How should the Government help businesses to build resilience and stabilise growth in an environment characterised by instability? 

• Following the lack of agreement on reform at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, what is the future of multilateral trade?  

The session will take place on Tuesday 19 May 2026 at 2pm and can be followed live on Parliament TV.