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Taking this 
as inspiration, I'm searching (quick glance) for UK trade policy in the party manifestos.
1. The LIBDEMS focus on protecting standards (eg, labour, environment, animal welfare) in trade agreements. Trade is mentioned briefly with aid.
https://www.libdems.org.uk/plan
1/n https://twitter.com/CoppetainPU/status/1197295120724451328
as inspiration, I'm searching (quick glance) for UK trade policy in the party manifestos.1. The LIBDEMS focus on protecting standards (eg, labour, environment, animal welfare) in trade agreements. Trade is mentioned briefly with aid.
https://www.libdems.org.uk/plan
1/n https://twitter.com/CoppetainPU/status/1197295120724451328
(Trade policy in manifestos—quick glance—cont.)
2. LABOUR also insists trade deals mustn't weaken standards (labour, environment, animal welfare) plus a focus on NHS and drug prices.
The only actual trade policy is UK-EU customs union, alignment.
https://labour.org.uk/manifesto/
2/n
2. LABOUR also insists trade deals mustn't weaken standards (labour, environment, animal welfare) plus a focus on NHS and drug prices.
The only actual trade policy is UK-EU customs union, alignment.
https://labour.org.uk/manifesto/
2/n
Interesting to see if this on drug pricing receives much attention (p.35, pdf version: https://labour.org.uk/manifesto/ )
Compulsory licensing is when a government decides to bypass certain patent rights, forcing the patent-owner to license the production of generics. …
3/n
on drug pricing receives much attention (p.35, pdf version: https://labour.org.uk/manifesto/ )Compulsory licensing is when a government decides to bypass certain patent rights, forcing the patent-owner to license the production of generics. …
3/n
… “Compulsory licensing” comes under the WTO intellectual property agreement (“TRIPS”).
Normally, there has to be a negotiation with the patent owner for a voluntary licence. Failing that, there still has to be remuneration.
See this FAQ https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/public_health_faq_e.htm
…
4/n
Normally, there has to be a negotiation with the patent owner for a voluntary licence. Failing that, there still has to be remuneration.
See this FAQ https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/public_health_faq_e.htm
…
4/n
… Drug pricing, access to medicines, patents and incentives to invent are a complex subject much discussed in the WTO, World Intellectual Property Organization and World Health Organization.
See e.g. https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/pharmpatent_e.htm
…
5/n
See e.g. https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/pharmpatent_e.htm
…
5/n
… Just the threat of compulsory licensing can persuade companies to cut their prices.
The manifesto talks of the “medical innovation model”. Behind that lies a large amount of complexity. It remains to be seen what Labour has in mind.
https://labour.org.uk/manifesto/
…
6/n
The manifesto talks of the “medical innovation model”. Behind that lies a large amount of complexity. It remains to be seen what Labour has in mind.
https://labour.org.uk/manifesto/
…
6/n
… On protecting “all parts of the NHS” from trade deals — generally that can apply where there is no private sector participation.
Otherwise, the UK will be subject, at least, to its commitments in the WTO on public procurement and services …
https://labour.org.uk/manifesto/
7/n
Otherwise, the UK will be subject, at least, to its commitments in the WTO on public procurement and services …
https://labour.org.uk/manifesto/
7/n
… The NHS is among entities the UK has opened up to foreign competition (among signatory countries) under the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (signed by a subset of WTO members). So it is already subject to one international trade treaty …
8/n
https://e-gpa.wto.org/en/Annex/Details?Agreement=GPA113&Party=EuropeanUnion&AnnexNo=1&ContentCulture=en&AdvancedSearch=False
8/n
https://e-gpa.wto.org/en/Annex/Details?Agreement=GPA113&Party=EuropeanUnion&AnnexNo=1&ContentCulture=en&AdvancedSearch=False
… The UK has opened medical services & medical professional services to foreign suppliers in its WTO services commitments.
It's complex—lots of exception—but generally applies to activities already privatised.
So under another trade deal.
See http://i-tip.wto.org/services/Search.aspx
…
9/n
It's complex—lots of exception—but generally applies to activities already privatised.
So under another trade deal.
See http://i-tip.wto.org/services/Search.aspx
…
9/n
… Finally, Labour has announced these policies before; they are not new to the 2019 manifesto.
And “TRIPS” (the WTO agreement) = “Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights”.
10/n (to be continued)
And “TRIPS” (the WTO agreement) = “Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights”.
10/n (to be continued)
(Trade policy in manifestos—quick glance—cont.)
3. GREEN PARTY: no trade policy as such.
• Transparency on trade in EU institutions
• Trade deals to be environmental- and development-friendly (as LibDems)
• Against investor-state dispute settlement https://campaigns.greenparty.org.uk/manifesto/#gnd
3. GREEN PARTY: no trade policy as such.
• Transparency on trade in EU institutions
• Trade deals to be environmental- and development-friendly (as LibDems)
• Against investor-state dispute settlement https://campaigns.greenparty.org.uk/manifesto/#gnd
(Trade policy in manifestos—quick glance—cont.)
4. BREXIT PARTY: the word “trade” is not in the manifesto (“contract”).
This is, under a “clean break Brexit”:
“Reduce import tariffs: […] reduce tariffs to zero on certain foods, footwear and clothing.” https://www.thebrexitparty.org/contract/
4. BREXIT PARTY: the word “trade” is not in the manifesto (“contract”).
This is, under a “clean break Brexit”:
“Reduce import tariffs: […] reduce tariffs to zero on certain foods, footwear and clothing.” https://www.thebrexitparty.org/contract/
(Trade policy in manifestos—quick glance—cont.)
5. CONSERVATIVES: The only party to have a section on trade policy.
But it doesn’t tell us much. Just the vague slogan of “free trade”—which is in the eye of the beholder but is never totally free …
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
13/n
5. CONSERVATIVES: The only party to have a section on trade policy.
But it doesn’t tell us much. Just the vague slogan of “free trade”—which is in the eye of the beholder but is never totally free …
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
13/n
[Conservative manifesto cont]
The “Free trade”slogan doesn’t say whether the UK will unilaterally scrap tariffs, keep its present tariffs and rely on free trade agreements to to do it, or somewhere in between.
Nothing on trade-offs, winners-losers
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
14/n
![[Conservative manifesto cont]The “Free trade”slogan doesn’t say whether the UK will unilaterally scrap tariffs, keep its present tariffs and rely on free trade agreements to to do it, or somewhere in between.Nothing on trade-offs, winners-losers https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan 14/n](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKJ6gUXX0AAP_FT.png "[Conservative manifesto cont]The “Free trade”slogan doesn’t say whether the UK will unilaterally scrap tariffs, keep its present tariffs and rely on free trade agreements to to do it, or somewhere in between.Nothing on trade-offs, winners-losers https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan 14/n")
The “Free trade”slogan doesn’t say whether the UK will unilaterally scrap tariffs, keep its present tariffs and rely on free trade agreements to to do it, or somewhere in between.
Nothing on trade-offs, winners-losers
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
14/n
[Conservative manifesto cont]
This part ends with
• “dismantle barriers to trade”—what, all of them? Including on unsafe food and dangerous products?
• “retake our seat at the World Trade Organisation”—a quibble: the UK never lost its WTO seat …
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
15/n
![[Conservative manifesto cont]This part ends with• “dismantle barriers to trade”—what, all of them? Including on unsafe food and dangerous products?• “retake our seat at the World Trade Organisation”—a quibble: the UK never lost its WTO seat … https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan 15/n](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKJ6g19XUAEhXhv.png "[Conservative manifesto cont]This part ends with• “dismantle barriers to trade”—what, all of them? Including on unsafe food and dangerous products?• “retake our seat at the World Trade Organisation”—a quibble: the UK never lost its WTO seat … https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan 15/n")
![[Conservative manifesto cont]This part ends with• “dismantle barriers to trade”—what, all of them? Including on unsafe food and dangerous products?• “retake our seat at the World Trade Organisation”—a quibble: the UK never lost its WTO seat … https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan 15/n](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKJ6g11WwAAseBi.jpg "[Conservative manifesto cont]This part ends with• “dismantle barriers to trade”—what, all of them? Including on unsafe food and dangerous products?• “retake our seat at the World Trade Organisation”—a quibble: the UK never lost its WTO seat … https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan 15/n")
This part ends with
• “dismantle barriers to trade”—what, all of them? Including on unsafe food and dangerous products?
• “retake our seat at the World Trade Organisation”—a quibble: the UK never lost its WTO seat …
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
15/n
[Tory manifesto cont]
The main focus: free trade deals.
• To cover 80% of UK trade—so wd have to include services. And with the UK's largest trading partners, US and EU, etc. All within 3 years.
1 in 3 yrs = ambitious. But all, simultaneously?
16/n
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
![[Tory manifesto cont]The main focus: free trade deals.• To cover 80% of UK trade—so wd have to include services. And with the UK's largest trading partners, US and EU, etc. All within 3 years.1 in 3 yrs = ambitious. But all, simultaneously?16/n https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKJ6hr9XsAA4FHr.png "[Tory manifesto cont]The main focus: free trade deals.• To cover 80% of UK trade—so wd have to include services. And with the UK's largest trading partners, US and EU, etc. All within 3 years.1 in 3 yrs = ambitious. But all, simultaneously?16/n https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan")
The main focus: free trade deals.
• To cover 80% of UK trade—so wd have to include services. And with the UK's largest trading partners, US and EU, etc. All within 3 years.
1 in 3 yrs = ambitious. But all, simultaneously?
16/n
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
[Conservative manifesto cont]
• Trade liberalisation in services—a special mention. Free trade deals aside, this would be in the WTO (deadlocked) or in a group outside it—Trade in Services (TISA) talks, also deadlocked)
Makes sense, but difficult
17/n
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
![[Conservative manifesto cont]• Trade liberalisation in services—a special mention. Free trade deals aside, this would be in the WTO (deadlocked) or in a group outside it—Trade in Services (TISA) talks, also deadlocked)Makes sense, but difficult17/n https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKJ6iEEX0AIdWbH.png "[Conservative manifesto cont]• Trade liberalisation in services—a special mention. Free trade deals aside, this would be in the WTO (deadlocked) or in a group outside it—Trade in Services (TISA) talks, also deadlocked)Makes sense, but difficult17/n https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan")
• Trade liberalisation in services—a special mention. Free trade deals aside, this would be in the WTO (deadlocked) or in a group outside it—Trade in Services (TISA) talks, also deadlocked)
Makes sense, but difficult
17/n
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
[Conservative manifesto cont]
• Ten free ports.
This is not straightforward. Here are a couple of articles on free ports and Brexit
• @FullFact: https://fullfact.org/europe/free-ports/
• @pholmes8 on @uk_tpo: https://blogs.sussex.ac.uk/uktpo/2019/09/26/freeports-preparing-to-trade-post-brexit/
… 18/n
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
![[Conservative manifesto cont]• Ten free ports.This is not straightforward. Here are a couple of articles on free ports and Brexit• @FullFact: https://fullfact.org/europe/free-ports/• @pholmes8 on @uk_tpo: https://blogs.sussex.ac.uk/uktpo/2019/09/26/freeports-preparing-to-trade-post-brexit/… 18/n https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKJ6iegWkAAetX8.png "[Conservative manifesto cont]• Ten free ports.This is not straightforward. Here are a couple of articles on free ports and Brexit• @FullFact: https://fullfact.org/europe/free-ports/• @pholmes8 on @uk_tpo: https://blogs.sussex.ac.uk/uktpo/2019/09/26/freeports-preparing-to-trade-post-brexit/… 18/n https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan")
• Ten free ports.
This is not straightforward. Here are a couple of articles on free ports and Brexit
• @FullFact: https://fullfact.org/europe/free-ports/
• @pholmes8 on @uk_tpo: https://blogs.sussex.ac.uk/uktpo/2019/09/26/freeports-preparing-to-trade-post-brexit/
… 18/n
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
[Conservative manifesto cont]
• Fair trade through trade deals—not about “fairtrade” products but about using trade to improve life in developing countries.
Linked to commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on international aid. …
19/n
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
![[Conservative manifesto cont]• Fair trade through trade deals—not about “fairtrade” products but about using trade to improve life in developing countries.Linked to commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on international aid. …19/n https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKJ6i2oWoAUqkS8.png "[Conservative manifesto cont]• Fair trade through trade deals—not about “fairtrade” products but about using trade to improve life in developing countries.Linked to commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on international aid. …19/n https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan")
![[Conservative manifesto cont]• Fair trade through trade deals—not about “fairtrade” products but about using trade to improve life in developing countries.Linked to commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on international aid. …19/n https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKJ6i3mXkAEmp1b.png "[Conservative manifesto cont]• Fair trade through trade deals—not about “fairtrade” products but about using trade to improve life in developing countries.Linked to commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on international aid. …19/n https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan")
• Fair trade through trade deals—not about “fairtrade” products but about using trade to improve life in developing countries.
Linked to commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on international aid. …
19/n
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
[Conservative manifesto cont]
• 5 principles for trade talks, including an odd one about being tough and ready to walk away from a bad deal.
Here & elsewhere; free trade talks won’t undermine the NHS, welfare and the environment—as all parties.
20/n
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
![[Conservative manifesto cont]• 5 principles for trade talks, including an odd one about being tough and ready to walk away from a bad deal.Here & elsewhere; free trade talks won’t undermine the NHS, welfare and the environment—as all parties.20/n https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKJ6jRmWoAI6Ft8.png "[Conservative manifesto cont]• 5 principles for trade talks, including an odd one about being tough and ready to walk away from a bad deal.Here & elsewhere; free trade talks won’t undermine the NHS, welfare and the environment—as all parties.20/n https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan")
• 5 principles for trade talks, including an odd one about being tough and ready to walk away from a bad deal.
Here & elsewhere; free trade talks won’t undermine the NHS, welfare and the environment—as all parties.
20/n
https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan
(Trade policy in manifestos—quick glance—cont.)
6. PLAID CYMRU. Fully in the EU single market & customs union. Protecting social, health, environmental, food safety and medicine standards, and the NHS, in trade deals.
For farm subsidies—remain.
21/n
https://www.partyof.wales/maniffesto_2019
6. PLAID CYMRU. Fully in the EU single market & customs union. Protecting social, health, environmental, food safety and medicine standards, and the NHS, in trade deals.
For farm subsidies—remain.
21/n
https://www.partyof.wales/maniffesto_2019
(Trade policy in manifestos—quick glance—cont.)
7. Finally, the SNP
(and apologies to Northern Ireland parties for not looking at theirs)
No trade policy as such.
• A lot on preventing the NHS from being in trade negotiations (pdf page 18)
…
https://www.snp.org/general-election-2019/
22/25
7. Finally, the SNP
(and apologies to Northern Ireland parties for not looking at theirs)
No trade policy as such.
• A lot on preventing the NHS from being in trade negotiations (pdf page 18)
…
https://www.snp.org/general-election-2019/
22/25
(The SNP manifesto, cont.)
• Defending Scottish agriculture, food/drink, and fisheries products against trade barriers eg, no-deal or hard Brexit.
• Plus: strong protection for Arbroath smokies and other geographical indications.
https://www.snp.org/general-election-2019/ (p.39)
23/25
• Defending Scottish agriculture, food/drink, and fisheries products against trade barriers eg, no-deal or hard Brexit.
• Plus: strong protection for Arbroath smokies and other geographical indications.
https://www.snp.org/general-election-2019/ (p.39)
23/25
(Trade policy in the SNP manifesto, cont.)
• Oppose any trade deal with the US until it drops its new tariffs on Scotch Whisky.
https://www.snp.org/general-election-2019/ (p14)
(These tariffs were raised by the US in WTO-authorised retaliation against Airbus subsidies. See next tweet)
24/25
• Oppose any trade deal with the US until it drops its new tariffs on Scotch Whisky.
https://www.snp.org/general-election-2019/ (p14)
(These tariffs were raised by the US in WTO-authorised retaliation against Airbus subsidies. See next tweet)
24/25
(Trade policy in the SNP manifesto, conclusion)
What are the "new" US tariffs on Scotch whisky (and other products)? Explained in this thread: https://twitter.com/CoppetainPU/status/1179720914566553601?s=20
25/25/ends (phew!)
What are the "new" US tariffs on Scotch whisky (and other products)? Explained in this thread: https://twitter.com/CoppetainPU/status/1179720914566553601?s=20
25/25/ends (phew!)
