To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps is his Department taking to assist the Falkland Islands with discussions with the European Union on trade between those two parties.
Answered on
21 July 2021
We remain unwavering in our commitment to safeguard the interests of Overseas Territories, and we are providing them support, including the Falkland Islands, following the UK's withdrawal from the EU. During negotiations of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK made clear to the EU from the outset that we were negotiating on behalf of the Overseas Territories. However, the European Commission refused to negotiate a future relationship that included the Overseas Territories. We sought to change the Commission's position, but the Commission declined to engage. As a result, tariffs now apply on exports from the Falkland Islands. We continue to work with the Falkland Islands Government to agree appropriate actions to mitigate against the impact of tariffs on their exports to the EU, and to take advantage of the opportunities available to us as an independent trading nation.