Source · Select Committees · Human Rights (Joint Committee)
Recommendation 33
33
Acknowledged
The UK has not yet developed a uniform approach to embedding obligations to uphold human...
Conclusion
The UK has not yet developed a uniform approach to embedding obligations to uphold human rights in its trade agreements, and it is unclear how the impacts of such clauses are assessed and evaluated when used. (Conclusion, Paragraph 199)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the role of FTAs in tackling forced labour and states it will continue to pursue the inclusion of forced labour provisions, listing existing agreements. However, it does not explicitly address the points about a uniform approach or how impacts are assessed and evaluated.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government recognises that free trade agreements are an important tool to help prevent, identify and eliminate forced labour in global supply chains. The UK will continue to pursue the inclusion of forced labour provisions in our free trade agreements. The UK has specific articles on forced labour in its FTAs with Australia, New Zealand and in the CPTPP. In the UK-NZ FTA, for instance, both parties commit to tackling forced labour within supply chains; and in the recently signed UK-India FTA both countries agreed to provisions to discourage forced and compulsory labour. FTAs are however just one of the UK’s tools for addressing forced labour in supply chains. The Developing Countries Trading Scheme allows for the suspension of preferential trading agreements on grounds of serious violation of labour rights, and UK Export Finance reviews social, and human rights risk factors for transactions in scope of their policy. Work also continues in the multilateral space to support the eradication of forced labour in global supply chains, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 8.7