The International Trade Committee will hold the first session of
its inquiry into the continuing application of EU trade agreements
after Brexit, on Wednesday 15 November. Giving evidence will be
legal experts Philippe De Baere and Andrew Hood, followed by
economist Dr Michael Gasiorek. The session will look at possible
legal and technical mechanisms whereby the UK might be able to
achieve replication of the EU’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
In total, the EU is party to 36 regional or bilateral FTAs,
covering more than 60 countries. Of the UK’s top 50 export
markets for goods in 2015, 10 are covered by EU trade agreements
which the UK will cease to be a party to after Brexit. The
Government has stated that it intends to maintain the current
position by replicating the rights that the UK presently enjoys
under these agreements. The Department for International Trade
has said this is its second priority after establishing the UK’s
position at the World Trade Organisation.
As well as looking at the legal and technical aspects of the
Government’s intention, the Committee will also hear from
witnesses on the implications of the EU’s current position on the
sequencing of the Brexit negotiations (which states that while
the UK remains a Member State it cannot negotiate or conclude any
trade agreement with a third country), the extent and nature of
EU FTAs, and what allowances the recently-presented Trade Bill
makes for the implementation of ‘grandfathered’ agreements.
Wednesday 15 November
Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster
From 10.00am:
- Philippe De Baere (International Trade Lawyer, Van Bael &
Bellis) and Andrew Hood (Barrister and EU Law Expert, Dechert)
From 11.00am:
- Dr Michael Gasiorek (Economist, UK Trade Policy Observatory,
University of Sussex)
