At Cabinet Office questions in the House of Commons, James Wild MP pressed ministers on the lack of progress following recent government announcements about UK-EU trade cooperation. He asked whether headline measures, such as Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks, sharing criminal records data, and energy cooperation, have moved beyond headlines to actual legal agreements and implementation.
James’ question reflects growing concern among businesses where unresolved trade barriers and ongoing uncertainty continue to cause problems. Despite repeated ministerial claims of success in the US deal, industries like steel have yet to see the practical benefits with tariffs still holding back exports.
This follows the Prime Minister’s announcement of a new “common understanding” with the EU presented as a breakthrough in UK-EU relations. But the lack of a binding legal agreement and slow progress on key measures have left many questioning what’s really changed.
James’ intervention builds on ongoing efforts to hold the government to account and push for trade deals that deliver for British businesses and communities.
Speaking in the House of Commons, James Wild MP said:
“This government has a track record of announcing trade deals but then nothing actually happens, as our steel sector can attest. So, two months on from the Prime Minister crowing about the deal with the EU, can the Minister confirm whether SPS checks, sharing criminal records data, and energy cooperation - has any legal text actually been agreed, and have any of those measures been implemented or not?”
In response, the Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, said:
“Mr Speaker, if he is seriously saying our trade deals make no difference, he should visit Jaguar Land Rover and speak to the workers there whose jobs were saved by the economic deal with the United States. And with regard to the matters he is raising, he is right to say that the new common understanding isn’t itself a legal text - he’s absolutely right. We will now be moving forward to agree that legal text as soon as possible. Given the backbench questions so far, they all seem to want it done as soon as possible despite the opposition from the front bench.”
