Briefings TJM's response to the ITC's consultation on the COVID-19 pandemic and international trade

TJM's response to the ITC's consultation on the COVID-19 pandemic and international trade

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated unprecedented economic and social challenges for the UK and the world. TJM has responded to the International Trade Committee's public consultation on the crisis to call for the following actions:

1. Pause trade negotiations, and extend the Brexit implementation period
2. Resist calls to relax regulatory standards, and ensure imported goods remain safe and high quality
3. Suspend the application of intellectual property provisions to COVID-19-related goods and services in existing trade deals including TRIPS
4. Agree a worldwide moratorium against the use of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) claims relating to coronavirus measures
5. Cooperate internationally to ensure countries can access the goods and services needed to respond to COVID-19
6. Introduce trade and international development measures to support workers and producers in developing countries
7. Work with WTO members and trade partners to ensure countries can build domestic resilience to trade disruption
8. Work with WTO members and trade partners to consider how trade agreements could better support public health and public services
9. Seek mutual termination of ISDS clauses and agreements
10. Work with WTO members and trade partners to re-examine Intellectual Property and Digital provisions in trade agreements
11. Improve scrutiny of trade deals, to ensure trade policy is transparent and has democratic support

Downloads

• Covid19 Consultation Response April 2020