Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:08 pm on 24 June 2021.

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Photo of Liam Fox Liam Fox Conservative, North Somerset 12:08, 24 June 2021

I cannot think what my hon. Friend is alluding to, but it is certainly true that consumers will have access to far greater choice. Look at the range of consumer goods that we have—all sorts of white goods, not just vans. Look at the quality of what we have in terms of household appliances. They are cheaper and better quality, and they have a greater technology than they would otherwise. That is what free trade means. The trouble with free trade is that its benefits are very widely spread to consumers, whereas any difficulties to producers tend to fall on very narrow sectors and are therefore used politically by the Opposition to promote their anti-trade policies.