TUC response to the government on UK-Canada trade negotiations

The TUC has responded to the government's consultation on UK-Canada trade negotiations.

The TUC regrets that trade unions were not consulted on the UK’s Trade Continuity Agreement with Canada before it was finalised in December 2020.  Consequently, the agreement contained the same threats to workers, public services and democratic decision that were contained in the EU-Canada agreement (CETA) it was based on.  These include concerns the agreement contained:

• no effective enforcement mechanism for international labour standards commitments
• no comprehensive protections for public services
• the possibilities for a court system to be introduced that would allow foreign investors to sue the government for actions that threaten their profits
• threats to personal data and NHS patient data

These concerns are shared by trade union centres in Canada with whom the TUC works closely.

The TUC and Canadian unions call on our governments to involve trade unions in the negotiation of any new trade agreement between the UK and Canada to address these concerns. 

Click on the document on the left to download the submission.