TPP Briefing: Why joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership would be bad for people and planet – and the UK

In this special edition of Up Front we highlight how we are resisting far right extremism: a politics that is turning back the clock to the darkest moments in recent history, and creating fertile ground for rising inequality, climate crisis, racist scapegoating and attacks on our human rights. That’s why we helped co-found the Stop Trump Coalition, and brought together thousands of people from all walks of life.

The UK Government has identified Israel as a priority trading partner with which it will negotiate a bilateral trade agreement post-Brexit, replicating its current trade arrangement under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The UK Foreign Office has expressed concern year on year over Israel’s violations of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention. These serial violations raise serious questions about the legality of current trade with Israel, especially the arms trade, and must not be left out of discussions on trade moving forward.

Liam Fox MP, the Secretary of State for International Trade, made a statement to the house on Monday 16 July, on a transparent and inclusive future trade policy. The fact that he made such a statement is welcome and overdue, however his proposals largely leave the status quo unchanged. Powers currently being held by European institutions will be returned to the UK after leaving, but rather than transferring them to Parliament they are being retained by the executive, creating a democratic deficit.