The blueprint for how Scotland will do business around the globe has been published by Trade Minister Ivan McKee.
Scotland’s Vision for Trade sets out five principles which will guide all future decisions on international trade: inclusive growth, wellbeing, sustainability, net zero and good governance.
The Scottish Government has said that it will partner with businesses which share these principles and work to improve their trading environment, promoting fair work and a just transition to net zero.
It is calling on the UK Government to protect the NHS — which the UK Government must, it insists, make a red line in any trade negotiation — and to make compliance with fundamental human rights and the Paris Climate Agreement absolute limits for the initiation of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.
The Scottish Government also believes that the Westminster Government should prioritise building on the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) with the EU to uphold high standards, for example through Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) for key goods sectors.
Mr McKee said: “How we trade is as important as what we trade and our values-based approach will guide how we do business around the world and ensure that people, businesses and other governments know who we are and what we represent as a nation.”
Available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-government-vision-trade, Vison for Trade identifies the biggest trade challenges affecting Scotland’s economy, people and the planet.
These include digital trade, supporting public services through trade, balancing cost, value and protections for consumers and the multilateral trading system and dispute settlement.
