Tom Wills, Director of the Trade Justice Movement reacts to Jonathan Reynolds, Business Secretary, opinion piece in the Guardian:
The trade policy laid out by the Business Secretary yesterday contains worrying shades of Liz Truss ('Greater trading options are crucial to the rebuilding of the country'). Over recent years, the UK has cut a chaotic figure on the world stage, pursuing low-standards trade agreements seemingly at random with unsuitable trading partners. Where agreements were struck, for example with Australia, they were widely criticised for failing to deliver for the UK (including by former Conservative Ministers).
Labour has an opportunity to start a new chapter of trade policy. Approached with creativity and ambition, trade agreements can help deliver high climate standards and human rights protections, furthering the UK's broader environmental and social priorities. As yet, there are few signs of this kind of thinking; it seems Labour is wedded to outdated free trade dogma which casts trade deals as the key to economic growth. But according to the government's own estimates, even the shining prize of a deal with Modi's India would lead to a 0.12-0.22% boost to GDP over 10 years, little more than a rounding error in the tricky world of economic forecasting. (source: https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/uk-india-trade-agreement-scrutiny-of-the-governments-negotiating-objectives/)
Labour should press pause on trade negotiations until it has published a trade strategy, as called for by businesses, trade unions and charities. A vision for how trade will contribute to a fairer and greener world would inform trade talks and allow Labour to demonstrate how its approach differs from that taken by Liz Truss. As yet, the distinction is not clear.
