Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Accepted
Paragraph: 46
Establish principles for effective Crown Dependency engagement in future trade agreement negotiations
Recommendation
We are very conscious that trade negotiations are complex, often extremely fast paced and, as Minister Hands pointed out, require the Department for Business and Trade to operate “in a corridor of what is deliverable and negotiable”. Nonetheless, improvements to the process for the Crown Dependencies can and should be made. 32 The constitutional relationship with the Crown Dependencies Therefore, we recommend that for future trade agreement negotiations the Crown Dependencies, Ministry of Justice and Department for Business and Trade should work together to identify a set of principles to guide effective engagement during the negotiation process. We recommend that they should include early and comprehensive engagement from the outset to conclusion; early sight of relevant documents; real time updates; and reasonable timeframes for provision of responses and information. During particularly time-pressured periods, we recommend that there should be officials in the room acting as a conduit for information to and from the Crown Dependencies in real time.
Government Response Summary
The government notes the recommendation and states that it already has well-established processes for regular and timely consultation with the Crown Dependencies, including sharing draft negotiating texts to ensure their interests are considered. They do not commit to identifying new guiding principles or placing officials in the room as conduits.
Paragraph Reference:
46
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
28. The Government notes the Committee’s recommendation and recognises the importance of engagement with the Crown Dependencies from the outset to the conclusion of negotiations. 29. The Department for Business and Trade has well-established processes in place for consulting the Crown Dependencies in a regular and timely fashion. This includes engagement with the Chief Negotiator and Chapter leads, especially in free trade agreements and areas that the Crown Dependencies prioritise. 30. The Department for Business and Trade already works closely with the Crown Dependencies to ensure that the UK negotiating positions consider Crown Dependency interests. Draft UK negotiating text is routinely shared with Crown Dependencies to allow early identification of compliance issues.