7. What progress is being made on the production of a concordat between the Welsh Government and the UK Government regarding future trade negotiations? OAQ54722

I'm afraid that progress on a concordat for trade, and related inter-governmental machinery, has been paused for the general election.

That's a very disappointing situation, Minister, because, clearly, we fully understand that the UK Government seems to think that trade negotiations are a reserved matter, and no involvement of devolved nations will be taking place in those negotiations. It's not necessarily the negotiations, but it's actually setting the agenda for those negotiations that will be crucial. I think it's important that Welsh Government must have an input somewhere at that stage, because we know that the implementation of trade negotiations—the devolved competencies will be here.

Everyone talks about the national health service and the implications of a UK-US trade deal on the national health service, but there are many other trade negotiations going on. On the Korean one, we may want to talk about the human rights situations regarding the nations we want to have a trade agreement with, and whether that is appropriate depending on their human rights status and experience.

So, what is the Welsh Government doing to actually influence any future trade negotiations and to be in at the early stages to set the mandates for the negotiations so that Wales can get the benefits from the negotiations, but also that we also see the Welsh Government's interests put into any trade negotiation as well?

We've been very clear with the UK Government that it's imperative that we are a part of any trade negotiations. The Secretary of State has agreed to establish a joint ministerial forum on trade. The problem is that every time we get going here, there's a shift and a change in terms of personnel. So, we develop these relationships with the relevant Minister, we get a long way down the line, then we've had a new Prime Minister and now we've got a general election, so we have to start all over again. It's a really, really frustrating situation.

We have, in the past, had some reassurances that we will be involved in developing negotiating positions. There is, I think, a recognition that we have to be involved in areas where we have devolved responsibility, otherwise they'll be signing trade deals and we'll be responsible for the implementation of trade deals that we may not agree with. Certainly, if it comes to the NHS, for example, we are absolutely clear that we do not want American pharmaceutical companies having access to our markets.

So, I think it's essential that, first thing after the general election, we will be pressing for further progress. We've gone as far as we can, I think, in terms of bilateral relationships, but we now need the machinery to be established so we can move forward and be ready for those trade negotiations before they start speaking to other countries.

Thank you very much, Minister.