Trade deals
About
Free trade deals are decided in secrecy, without regard for the residents of countries. They modify and dismantle laws, regulations, and legal processes which allow large corporations to operate freely and dominate. They are fundamentally about this transfer of power. The outcomes are increased inequality (poverty, crime etc.), loss of land, loss of jobs, pollution... Further info:
- Our trade deal concerns article.
- The devastation caused to Mexicans due to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
- Our press release to the Swindon Advertiser.
- The Energy Charter and why we need to exit.
Correspondence
Given concerns, we wrote to both local MPs in 2020 to ask for assurances that trade deals would not affect our ability to deal with plastic pollution. It took more than 5 months to get an initial response. We asked:
- Will trade deals further plastic pollution in any way?
- Will trade deals make it more difficult to introduce effective legislation to reduce plastic pollution?
It was agreed that Robert Buckland would represent both north and south Swindon. He has provided no assurances. Following is the correspondence with him:
31st December 2020
Mr Buckland,
We've writtem to you now several times over the last 5 months to ask for a meeting, as agreed, to discuss urgent plastic pollution concerns including the US and other trade deals, the Environment Bill and the Plastic Pollution Bill, Why have you not responded to us?
Again, for clarification:
We ask that you actively support the Plastic Pollution Bill, as agreed. And we ask for assurances about trade deals.
Plastic pollution is a growing crisis that is contributing to disease, suffering, climate change and mass extinction. The situation is urgent and needs to be effectively addressed as soon as possible. The current system of recycling is not sustainable. It is clear that we need to implement measures to reduce plastic production. Please see the link below for clear confirmation of that, if in any doubt.
https://plasticfreeswindon.org/resources/library
The Plastic Pollution Bill sets out effective legislation that would implement a timetable to reduce plastic usage and, hence, pollution. The bill is due for its second sitting on January 29th 2021. Will you be attending and actively supporting the bill? It is clear that the proposed Environment Bill would not introduce the strict timetable of plastic reduction that is needed to dramatically reduce plastic consumption. Please see the link below if clarification is needed on that.
I am concerned that trade deals, including with the US, will make it harder for us to effectively deal with plastic pollution, that corporate interests will be put before the welfare of us all. Hence I seek assurances:
- Will trade deals further plastic pollution in any way?
- Will trade deals make it more difficult to introduce effective legislation to reduce plastic pollution?
I hope to hear back from you this time
Yours sincerley,
Ben Bell, Plastic Free Swindon
31st December 2020
Dear Ben,
Many thanks for getting in touch. I cannot locate your previous email, but I nonetheless apologise for the delay in getting back to you.
The United Kingdom continues to be a global leader in tackling plastic waste, and I am encouraged by the ambition of my Government colleagues to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. As a member of the Cabinet I have and continue to be an enthusiastic supporter of the bold environmental measures that the Conservative Government is taking on green issues ahead of COP26.
The Plastic Pollution Bill which you refer to is quite far down the list of Private Members' Bill to be heard and is there unlikely to become law. Despite your reservations about the Environment Bill, this is the best mechanism to achieve the sorts of legislative change you are looking for. I am always more than happy to formally write to the Environment Secretary with any suggestions you have about how to improve this Bill.
In relation to your questions about the impact of future trade deals on our efforts to tackle plastic pollution, please let me ensure you that this Government is wholeheartedly committed to not just upholding but strengthening our environmental protections.
I hope that the above information provides the clarification you are looking for.
Yours sincerely,
Robert Buckland MP
5th January 2021
Hi Robert,
We have sent many emails to you re the agreed meeting, not just one. There is no mention of meeting with us in your response. Do you intend to honour that agreement and meet with us?
To address each point that you've made:
- The UK is not a global leader in dealing with plastic waste. On the contrary, the UK and the US are the two largest waste producers in the world per capita. Both countries' governments have shown no interest in entering into the new global plastic pact. So how is that encouraging, as you suggest? The UK government has so far done relatively little about plastic pollution; a tax has been put on plastic bags and 3 items of plastic have been banned. This is not a proportionate or adequate response to the crises that plastic pollution is increasingly contributing to. We continue to wait for positive action, for strong legislation.
- Whilst in the EU, the UK was the leading member state in subsidising fossil fuels. The UK government has funded overseas fossil fuel projects with £3.9 billion since the 2015 Paris climate agreement. That includes fracking, used as the precursor to making cheap plastic. So how can the UK government be eliminating plastic waste when it has been funding projects to increase plastic production?
- There are many good reasons to support the Plastic Pollution Bill as it stands because it provides a structure which includes a timetable to reduce plastic production and, hence, pollution. Indeed, you agreed to support the aims of the Plastic Pollution Bill in the lead up to the 2019 General Election. If you do proceed with the less effective Environment Bill, are you going to keep your word and actively support the aims of the Plastic Pollution Bill? That would mean ensuring that the aims of the Plastic Pollution Bill, as outlined in our letter to you, would be included in the Environment Bill.
- We met around 5 years ago to discuss concerns about TTIP, a supposed trade deal which you and the UK government supported. In our conversation, we talked about the removal of NTBs (non-tariff barriers to trade). Leaks from Greenpeace showed those NTBs to include environmental protections. The idea that removing these NTBs could lead to better protections is a contradiction in terms. Years later and another free trade agreement with the US is being discussed in secret after the UKs departure from the EU. The UK government has already backtracked on assurances on food and animal welfare standards. So how can I or anyone else be content with further 'assurances' from you? Concerns are that trade deals with the UK will enshrine the profit of large corporations ahead of welfare issues such as environmental protections, that we will be importing the weak and oppressive US economic and regulatory system. Corporate courts using ISDS would be used as per other free trade agreements, as was planned in secret for TTIP. Will that be the case Mr Buckland?
Please answer our questions to provide assurances or not on upcoming trade deals. A simple yes or no will suffice, thanks.
- Will trade deals further plastic pollution in any way?
- Will trade deals make it more difficult to introduce effective legislation to reduce plastic pollution?
Yours sincerley,
Ben Bell, Plastic Free Swindon
11th January 2021
Dear Ben,
I would be happy to organise a virtual meeting to discuss the Plastic Pollution Bill, the Environment Bill and your concerns about the impact of future trade deals on plastic pollution.
I will make sure a member of my team contacts you directly in order to get a date / time for the meeting in the diary.
Yours sincerely,
Robert Buckland MP
11th January 2021
Hi Robert,
It is noted that you haven't mentioned the inaccuracies pointed out in your response to us. It is also noted that you continue to not answer our questions regarding trade deals. Can you please answer these questions?
- Will trade deals further plastic pollution in any way?
- Will trade deals make it more difficult to introduce effective legislation to reduce plastic pollution?
We have waited 6 months for your offer of a meeting. Thanks, I am happy to arrange meeting with you once we have clear answers to our questions.
Yours sincerely,
Ben Bell, Plastic Free Swindon
13th January 2021
Dear Ben,
As mentioned in my previous response, the Government is committed to not just upholding but strengthening our environmental protections - including those related to reducing plastic pollution.
This commitment will not be side-lined or dismissed in the pursuit of future trade deals.
I would be happy to discuss this further during a virtual meeting. To that effect, I have copied a member of my staff into this email chain. I would encourage you to contact Alex directly in order to sort out a suitable date / time for the meeting.
Yours sincerely,
Robert Buckland MP
14th January 2021
Hi Robert,
You write that, 'This commitment will not be side-lined or dismissed in the pursuit of future trade deals'. Are you committed in the same way that you were committed to uphold food and animal welfare standards? How about genetically modified crops? I mention these issues because the government has already reneged on these and other supposed commitments. How can we trust a government that does not keep its word? How can we trust a government that funds the fossil fuel industry whilst publicly claiming to be, in your words, 'a global leader in tackling plastic waste'? I'm happy to provide further examples, if you wish.
There are 2 clear questions. We would like those answers in writing. Please provide a yes or no for each, thanks:
- Will trade deals further plastic pollution in any way?
- Will trade deals make it more difficult to introduce effective legislation to reduce plastic pollution?
Once these questions are answered, I would be happy to arrange meeting.
Yours sincerely,
Ben Bell, Plastic Free Swindon
15th January 2021
Dear Ben,
I appreciate you are looking for a yes or no answer to your questions, but I personally do not find this restrictive approach to be helpful or appropriate when discussing nuanced and important topics like the relationship between any future trade deals and plastic pollution / our ability to legislate in order to reduce plastic pollution.
That is why I am happy to discuss them in detail with you during a virtual meeting. If this is something you would still like to do, then please contact Alex directly in order to find a suitable date and time in the diary.
Yours sincerely,
Robert Buckland MP
16th January 2021
Hi Robert,
The questions are not a "restrictive approach", as you suggest. Answered questions lead to understanding. Logically a yes or no will suffice in this case. It's easy to say things in meetings and send a letter to a government minister. The people of Swindon and the UK deserve better than that. We deserve effective representation and peace of mind, especially at this difficult time.
So we ask for written assurances from you. That is partly because of contradictions between government's actions and words, as I briefly exampled. It is also because of the government's slow progress on dealing with plastic pollution, and its apparent lack of willingness to sign up to the new global treaty on plastic pollution.
There is also the fact that many ex lobbyists form part of the government. Our questions are based on concerns that corporate interests will be put before the welfare of us all, that corporate courts using Investor State Dispute Settlements (or similar) will be used, as has happened across the world. The case of Argentina is a prime example of such corporate protectionism through trade deals. The people of Argentina have paid billions in supposed compensation to corporations since 2001; profit over people.
So, can you please answer these questions? We would like to understand the situation and have that documented in writing.
- Will trade deals further plastic pollution in any way?
- Will trade deals make it more difficult to introduce effective legislation to reduce plastic pollution?
Yours sincerely,
Ben Bell, Plastic Free Swindon
After receiving no response to this email, we agreed to discuss these issues by phone. Here are brief notes from that conversation on Friday 5th March 2021:
- He provided no further assurances in answer to our trade deal questions. He expressed feelings about what might be and said that he has seen no evidence to suggest diminution of standards.
- He will respond to our email about the importance of supporting zero waste, for health, environment, and local economies.
- I asked if he would be supporting the Plastic Pollution Bill, as he had previously pledged to support its aims. He said that he doesn't think that the bill will progress.
- He will let us know about the current state of the proposed Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).
- There have been recent reports that the government is clamping down on those who question capitalism as fit for purpose as extremists. I asked if groups such as ours and Extinction Rebellion would be labelled as extremists for doing so. Robert said that wouldn't happen and cited the importance of respect for human rights. I asked him where the respect for human rights was in sanctioning over £6 billion of arms sales to Saudi Arabia to bomb Yemen. No response.
- Part of the Coronavirus Bill limits the right to protest. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would further restrict rights to protest. Concerns are for free expression and the right to protest, which could affect the ability of campaigns such as Plastic Free Swindon to operate. Mr Buckland told me that the government would not be seeking to limit protest, repealing the Coronavirus Bill once it is no longer needed.
10th March 2021
Hi Robert,
A reminder that we await your response in follow up to our recent phone conversation:
- To our email highlighting the importance and many benefits of a system of zero waste.
- To provide information about the current status of the proposed DRS scheme.
Good to get clarification that groups such as ours and Extinction Rebellion will not be labelled extremists for questioning and protesting about the current economic system. I'm pleased to hear that you welcome discussion and debate on this important subject rather than labelling, marginalisation and criminalisation.
Also good to hear that campaigns such as ours will not be restricted from communicating our views. However there are concerns about possible abuse through the diminution of human rights realised through the Coronavirus Act, and the proposed Policing, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. Court cases so far confirm those concerns, as evidenced by Liberty human rights organisation.
However, it is discouraging to receive no assurances regarding the impact of trade deals on plastic pollution and our ability to introduce effect measures to deal with it. The feelings and thoughts that you conveyed about what might be provide no assurance. These simple yes or no questions remain unanswered:
- Will trade deals further plastic pollution in any way?
- Will trade deals make it more difficult to introduce effective legislation to reduce plastic pollution?
Sincerely,
Ben Bell, Plastic Free Swindon
No further clarification has been given on the trade deal despite further replies from Robert Buckland. We have no assurances that:
- Trade deals won't further plastic pollution in any way.
- Trade deals won't make it more difficult to introduce effective legislation to reduce plastic pollution.
