The UK's decision to leave the EU means that, for the first time in 40 years, trade policy will return to UK government competence. In the two-year period in which Brexit negotiations take place, the UK government and public attention will inevitably be focused on negotiations with the EU. However, with the UK government's ability to negotiate its own trade deals comes a huge opportunity to achieve a truly progressive trade agenda for Southern countries.

Modern trade and investment deals cover almost every aspect of everyday life: from healthcare to environmental and labour standards, and international development. This makes them everybody's business. The UK's arrangements for public and parliamentary engagement with and scrutiny of trade are woefully inadequate and need to be reformed before Brexit takes place.

This briefing is published by War on Want, alongside the Trade Justice Movement, Global Justice Now, Unison, and Friends of the Earth.

Migrant workers across the UK face prejudice, abuse and exploitation. In the wake of Brexit, the call to ‘control our borders’ risks being used to not only restrict freedom of movement but to weaken the rights of migrant workers. The rights of workers who are already here, as well as those who come in the future, are at risk.

Read our infosheet to find out more.