Lords Committee urge greater UK focus on the Pacific Alliance – Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru
The House of Lords International Relations Committee has today published its report The UK's relationship with the Pacific Alliance, exploring the relationship between the UK and members of the Pacific Alliance - Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, and recommending measures to increase trade, build closer ties and calling for more diplomatic effort to be put into the region.
The UK shares similar values with the countries of the Pacific Alliance on a number of issues, including free trade, open markets and democracy, with potential for the UK to work more closely with them on a range of international issues.
The Committee concludes that strong relations with Pacific Alliance countries will be invaluable should the UK seek to boost its trade with the Asia-Pacific region, including membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The Committee also concludes that the wider Latin American region is an increasingly important part of the global economy, but expresses concerns that current levels of trade with the UK are extremely low.
The Committee identifies several areas where the Government's engagement with the countries of the Pacific Alliance need to be improved. Ministerial visits to the region have declined in recent months, and the Committee urges the Government to restore previous levels of engagement. The Committee is also concerned by the level of support being given to UK-based businesses by the Department for International Trade, particularly on language skills, and urges the Government to consider greater visa liberalisation for Colombia and Peru.
Chairman of the House of Lords International Relations Committee Lord Howell of Guildford said:
“The members of the Pacific Alliance - Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru – favour free trade and open economies, and represent a maturing market for goods and services as the Government seeks to boost the UK's trade and investment links across the globe. Current levels of trade with these four countries, and Latin American as a whole, are extremely modest, and show great potential for improvement.
“Beyond the trade relationship, we also share considerable common ground with Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru on global issues including democracy, the rules-based international order and addressing climate change. In a world of fast-evolving new networks this is one more in which Britain must be deeply engaged.”
