The UK’s New trade policy – what does an inclusive approach look like?

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We are delighted to invite you to a joint launch event between the Trade Justice Wales project (TJW) and the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy (CITP). Join us on 9 June in person at the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay to meet team members from both projects and to discuss how the UK can move towards an effective, equitable and inclusive trade policy that is joined up substantively across policy areas and geographies.

Having left the EU, the UK must now formulate and implement its own trade policy which will impact on economic, social and wellbeing outcomes for communities across the UK. The exercise of this competence domestically is still relatively new however, having been previously led at the EU level. As a result, there are significant policy and governance questions that still need to be explored and capacity to do so has so far been limited, particularly for civil society organisations. For example,

    How does trade policy development interact with the internal structures of devolution?
    How could the UK’s central and devolved governments work together in this area?
    How do different trade policies actually affect different parts of UK society?
    What should the UK want from its trade agreements in a turbulent world?
    How can the UK use trade policy to pursue a diverse range of goals – from generating business opportunities and managing the consequences of digitalisation to pursuing net-zero, sustainable development and human rights objectives? 

At the heart of many of these questions lies the need to ensure that the formulation and implementation of trade policy is inclusive and just – involving a wide range of actors across geographies and sectors including central and devolved governments, academics, civil society organisations and businesses. Join us on 9 June to hear more about how TJW and the CITP are working to address these and other questions.

Trade Justice Wales is a pilot project funded by a one-year Innovation for All grant by Cardiff University led by Fair Trade Wales and a team of researchers from the Wales Governance Centre to elevate the voice of Welsh civic society in the formulation of the UK’s emerging trade policy by providing a coordinating role and training opportunities.

The Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy is a major new research centre funded by an £8m grant from the Economic and Social Research Council. It aims to equip the UK with the capability to formulate and implement a trade policy tailored to the needs of the whole of the UK.

Registration and refreshments will be available from 12.30, and Vaughan Gething MS, Minister for Economy, will speak at 13.00.

To access the venue please see the Welsh Parliament website page here: https://senedd.wales/visit/our-estate/plan-your-visit/