Trade Agreements: USA
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what (a) oversight and (b) governance procedures will prospective US-UK trade negotiations be subject to from (i) Parliament and (ii) external stakeholders.
Answered by Mr Douglas Alexander
Any treaty signed between the UK and the US that requires ratification will be subject to the scrutiny procedure under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The CRaG process requires that a treaty, along with an Explanatory Memorandum, be laid before Parliament for 21 joint sitting days before the treaty can be ratified.
The Government will engage with external stakeholders, and it will also provide comprehensive information with Parliament, including negotiating objectives, in line with our commitment to a transparent trade policy.
The Government will work with relevant select committees to ensure proper parliamentary scrutiny of any trade negotiations between the UK and the US.
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