The International Trade Committee is launching an inquiry on the
UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA),
which has been signed today.
The Committee will be considering the likely impacts of the
Agreement, how it differs from the Japan-EU Economic Partnership
Agreement (JEEPA), and the extent to which the Government has
achieved its negotiating objectives.
The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (CRAG) requires
that the Government lay a treaty before Parliament 21 sitting
days before ratification. The Committee aims to conclude its
inquiry and publish its report before the end of this period.
, the Chair of the Committee, said:
“As part of our ongoing work regarding UK trade negotiations,
this inquiry will explore how the UK-Japan deal could affect
people and businesses across the UK, and the differences between
this agreement and the EU’s agreement with Japan.”
“The time available for us to scrutinise this agreement is very
limited – and as such, we are not able to conduct comprehensive
technical or legal analysis of the text. Instead we will be
taking evidence from stakeholders and experts and will prepare a
report highlighting the key points we have heard. In our report,
we will decide whether or not to recommend this agreement for
debate in the Chamber. The Government has said it will seek to
hold such a debate, if we recommend it.”
Submissions
The Committee’s inquiry is now open for short submissions on
some, or all, of the following questions until 5.00 pm on
Wednesday, 11 November. Submissions should be made using the UK
trade negotiations: Agreement with Japan inquiry page. The short
deadline for submissions is necessary so that the Committee can
publish its report before the end of the 21-day sitting period
prior to treaty ratification, as set out under the Constitutional
Reform and Governance Act 2010.
- How are the terms of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement (CEPA) between the UK and Japan likely to affect you,
your business or organisation, or those you represent?
- In what ways does CEPA differ from the Japan-EU Economic
Partnership Agreement (JEEPA)?
- To what extent has the Government achieved its negotiating
objectives, as set out
in May 2020?
- Does CEPA represent a good deal for the UK?
- What is likely to be the impact of the agreement on:
-
- the UK’s economy as a whole?
- particular sectors of the UK economy?
- the UK’s devolved nations and English regions?
- social, labour, environmental and animal welfare issues?
- UK consumers?
