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WQ. 35/2018
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER
BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 20th FEBRUARY 2018
Question
In the light of concerns expressed on 23rd January 2018 in the House of Lords by Lord Teverson regarding the potential marginalisation of Jersey's interests in the U.K.'s Brexit negotiations, what progress, if any, has the Jersey government made in becoming a member of the World Trade Organisation (W.T.O.) to protect against potentially damaging tariffs and quotas in the event of a no-trade deal with the E.U. being secured post-Brexit by the U.K.? What assistance from the U.K., if any, has Jersey received over the last year in gaining membership of the W.T.O.?
Answer
It is a long-standing policy objective of the Government of Jersey to secure extension of the United Kingdom's (U.K.) membership of the World Trade Organization (W.T.O.). Over the last year, this objective has been progressed in close conjunction with the U.K. Government, particularly the Department of International Trade (D.I.T.).
Government of Jersey officials - working closely with D.I.T. – are currently conducting a cross- departmental review of the Island's ability to comply with W.T.O. obligations and commitments. This review is progressing well and its outcome will inform the future progress of, and mechanism for, W.T.O. extension. D.I.T. officials are conducting a similar due diligence exercise in advance of the planned rectification of the U.K.'s W.T.O. Schedules.
Work to progress the related issue of extension of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property continues. A resolution of this issue is expected within the first quarter of 2018.
A number of telephone calls, workshops and meetings have taken place with the relevant D.I.T. team to focus on W.T.O. membership. Quarterly meetings between the Chief Ministers of the Crown Dependencies and Robin Walker MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union provide an opportunity to raise issues at Ministerial level.