Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Act 2024

Key Points

• Incorporates the CPTPP trade rules into UK law, enabling tariff and rules commitments with member countries.
• As part of parliamentary oversight, future regulations linked to CPTPP provisions must be approved by Parliament and consulted with devolved administrations before they can take effect.
• Amendment debates explored potential impact assessments and reviews (investor-state dispute settlement, government procurement/environment, investment, IP/performer rights, and accession of new states), but most of these proposals were defeated or not moved; one clerical but substantive change was agreed on protected geographical indications.
• Some technical changes were tabled on intellectual property and trade marks, for example clarifying how cancellations of protected designations of origin or protected geographical indications can be tested when a name changes, and aligning certain concepts with CPTPP terms.
• The bill’s passage reflected cross-party support in the Lords and Commons, with broad backing from Labour, Liberal Democrats, SNP, and others, while the Conservative government and some party allies opposed many amendments.

Progress

The bill completed its passage through Parliament and received Royal Assent on 20 March 2024, becoming law. It originated in the Lords and proceeded through the usual stages in both houses, with amendments debated but most not carried forward.

Voting

In the Lords, amendments proposed to widen parliamentary oversight and require impact assessments were generally supported by non-Conservative parties but opposed by the Conservative side (and some allies), resulting in most amendments being defeated or not moved. Cross-party groups such as Labour, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Independents, Plaid Cymru, and others voted in favour of the amendments, while the Conservative and some unionist MPs opposed them. Sinn Féin positions varied, and the Speaker/Mixed group were not voting as a party. Overall, the Government’s amendments received limited backing and many proposals were rejected, but the Act still passed into law.