Scotland must have a voice in trade deals after Brexit
The UK government will begin to make its own trade deals after Brexit. This could be a disaster: a US trade deal could open the market for the sale of chlorinated chicken and GM food from US farms here in Scotland, for example. ..But it is also an opportunity.
Last November a trade bill was published by the UK government. It set out a legal framework for trade after Brexit. However, the framework is not democratic. The bill ties the hands of both the House of Commons and our Scottish parliament: they will have no powers to scrutinise or debate future trade deals.
The trade bill is currently at the House of Lords being debated. Grab the ears of our peers: let them know how important proper scrutiny of future trade deals is.
Sign the petition to the House of Lords calling for a voice for Scotland in future trade deals: www.globaljustice.org.uk/scotland-lords
Sign the petition to the House of Lords calling for proper democratic scrutiny of future trade deals by all the UK parliaments: www.globaljustice.org.uk/lords
And please share on social media too!
US-UK trade deal consultation
The UK government has begun public consultations on a number of post-Brexit trade deals including one with the US. Find out what’s at risk in Scotland from future trade deals with the US
Coalition member Global Justice Now has prepared a response to the consultation that you can amend to include your own concerns. Take the e-action by 26 October
Just Trade Principles
Please ask your MP to sign up to these ethical trade principles.
Read the Just Trade Principles
Read the Just Principles for Trade policy briefing (useful for writing to your MP)
Stop Trump placard
Please ask your local councillors to support our trade principles
As we know from campaigning on new EU trade deals, local councils will feel the impact of future trade deals if public services and public procurement are to be included. During the campaign against TTIP, one third of Scottish local councils voted to make their local area a TTIP-free zone.
That is why we are now asking Scottish local Councils to sign up to our ethical trade principles.
We have put together a draft motion that Councillors could use. Please contact your local councillors and ask for their support.
Download our draft Just Trade Principles motion here
Inverclyde Council are the first in Scotland to pass a motion in support of our Just Trade Principles. Read the motion here