Policy paper

Minutes of the first meeting between the TSD DAG and DIT, September 2022

Updated 26 April 2024

Attendees and apologies

Organisations that attended the meeting are:

• techUK
• TheCityUK
• UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT)
• British Exporters Association (BExA)
• National Farmers’ Union (NFU)
• Trade and Public Policy Network (TaPP Network)
• Queen’s University Belfast
• University of Sheffield
• Trades Union Congress (TUC) Fairtrade Foundation

Companies that were unable to attend are:

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
• UK Chamber of Shipping

Welcome and introductions

The Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) teams welcomed the UK TSD DAG members. The UK government side was coordinated by the Head of Trade and Sustainable Development Implementation in the Department for International Trade (DIT), with representation from DIT, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Government officials emphasised the need for information exchange and collaboration between DIT and the UK TSD DAG to effectively implement the chapter. They also responded to questions raised about the content of the chapter and the scope of the group.

Opening remarks

Jo Crellin, Director General, Trading Systems, DIT formally opened the event, congratulating the members on their appointment to the UK TSD DAG. Jo highlighted the important role that the group will play in supporting the government’s efforts to promote sustainable, inclusive trade and harness trade policy as a driver for international cooperation on a wide range of sustainability issues.

TSD Implementation Introductory Session

DIT, BEIS and Defra officials summarised the chapter’s implementation activities, highlighting the role of the UK government and the UK TSD DAG within this.

Actions:

• DIT would welcome receiving the UK TSD DAG’s prioritisation of countries/agreements/issues/activities once they have been agreed by the group
• DIT will share the presentation slides after the meeting and offer this session again for members who could not attend

Workshop on the UK TSD DAG Rules of Procedure

DIT shared a draft Rules of Procedure for the UK TSD DAG members to consider ahead of the meeting. Professor Emily Reid opened and facilitated the session. TUC representative, Rosa Crawford, presented on her experience of being involved in drafting the Rules of Procedure for the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement Domestic Advisory Group. This was a private workshop for the UK TSD DAG members (UK government officials did not participate).

Key points from the discussion

Chairing:

• Professor Reid, appointed as the UK TSD DAG’s chair by DIT, sought the group’s support as chair
• members discussed the governance structure of the TSD DAG and agreed that this question required fuller consideration than could be given in the time available and should be taken forward in the review of the Rules of Procedure

Scope:

• the group discussed establishing country/sector specific working groups
• the group expressed interest in broadening its scope to include future agreements with TSD provisions as appropriate

Working with DIT

• emphasis was placed on the need for the group to operate independently
• the group wished to understand the UK’s priority areas for TSD
• it was agreed that DIT’s help would be important in raising the UK TSD DAG’s opinions and recommendations at the appropriate ministerial level
• it was noted that DIT and the UK TSD DAG will need to work closely ahead of each TSD Sub-Committee between the UK and a partner country so that the UK TSD DAG can convey its interests and priorities ahead of time. This includes the UK-Japan TSD Sub-Committee scheduled for December 2022. This interaction would, however, recognise the resource constraints at play

Transparency

• emphasis was placed on the need for transparency
• the group anticipated the need to share information with other civil society groups but were uncertain how to ensure this is done confidentially

Initial proposals to the draft Rules of Procedure:

• clarify that TSD DAG recommendations will receive a ‘timely response’
• clarify the TSD DAG’s governance structure
• name a designated contact point for the UK TSD DAG
• clarify the process for appointing new members as appropriate
• tighten up expectations regarding members’ participation and engagement, as well as consequences of non-engagement
• clarify issues relating to transparency
• clarify that a decision would be taken as to whether minutes would be published

Actions

• a sub-group of the UK TSD DAG members was formed to discuss changes to the Rules of Procedure. This sub-group includes representatives from the Fairtrade Foundation, the TUC, TheCityUK, BExA and TaPP. The sub-group will report back to DIT on its proposals to the Rules of Procedure via Professor Reid as chair
• DIT will share a list of the contact details of the UK TSD DAG members with the chair so that further correspondence can continue independently of DIT

Workshop on Dialogues with Civil Society

Professor Emily Reid opened and facilitated the session. The workshop gave UK TSD DAG members the opportunity to discuss how they want to shape their role in the Dialogues with Civil Society. DIT highlighted that these dialogues are likely to be held first with Japan and then with Vietnam and the Andean countries in the first half of 2023.

To support the discussion, DIT’s Head of Trade Policy for the Pacific Americas summarised the current challenges and opportunities in the region. Rosa Crawford, TUC, then provided reflections from her experiences of participating in the Dialogues with Civil Society held under the EU’s trade agreements. The workshop then continued as a closed session of the UK TSD DAG members (UK government officials did not participate).

Key points from the discussion

• the group discussed the need for the UK TSD DAG to set the agenda of the dialogues according to its priorities
• the group emphasised the benefit of ensuring an interface with government representatives to further encourage fruitful discussion. This should not come at the expense of independence
• the group discussed holding a joint meeting of the UK TSD DAG meeting and the partner country’s advisory group(s) the day before a Civil Society Dialogue to allow for more focused and collaborative discussion
• there was a discussion about whether it would be an option for the UK government to fund UK TSD DAG members’ attendance at in-person Civil Society Dialogues.
• the group considered the option of allowing members of the public to join Civil Society Dialogues to encourage wide-ranging debate
• the group discussed the importance of safety for civil society members to express their opinion and how to guarantee that
• there was debate over the merit of considering a country’s individual context when examining it through a TSD lens
• the group considered whether the UK TSD DAG could contact the UK government for information pertaining to TSD partner countries

Actions

• the UK TSD DAG requested that DIT shares internal documents detailing a specific country’s progress with regards to its TSD commitments. DIT will consider this and report back on what it can share with the group, which may include a request that members sign confidentiality agreements

Closing remarks

Vic Platten, Deputy Director of Bilateral Trade Policy for Bilateral Trade Relations, DIT, thanked attendees for their contributions and invited UK TSD DAG members to offer closing remarks or comments on next steps.