Parliament and trade

SIR – Modern trade agreements affect most sectors of the British economy, from agriculture and finance to energy and public services. Parliament has legislative rights across these sectors.

However, existing procedures for the ratification of trade agreements do not guarantee parliamentary or public oversight and scrutiny.

We call on the Government to include a procedure within the forthcoming Trade Bill for the negotiation and ratification of trade agreements that guarantees the following.

There must be transparency in trade negotiations, ensuring that the public has access to the information required to oversee and scrutinise them.

It must be the right of Parliament, with a remit for the devolved administrations, to set a detailed mandate to govern each trade negotiation, to be kept informed of the progress of negotiations and to approve or reject the final agreements.

The public must have the right to be consulted when setting a mandate, and Parliament must have the right to initiate the withdrawal from trade agreements in accordance with each agreement’s provisions for exit.

As Britain regains responsibility for trade policy, it is crucial that a broad spectrum of stakeholders participate in the development of that new policy. Therefore, the Government must take the chance to establish a procedure for the development of trade agreements that is transparent and inclusive.

Dr Hannah Bargawi

Senior Lecturer in Economics SOAS, University of London

Professor Andreas Bieler

Professor of Political Economy University of Nottingham

Dr Liam Campling

Reader in Political Economy Queen Mary, University of London and 52 others: see telegraph.co.uk