UK trade deals should prioritise economy over environment – leaked govt document

UK trade deals should prioritise economy over environment – leaked govt document

Britain should prioritise economic growth over environmental protections in trade deals, according to a leaked government document obtained by Sky News.

Environmental safeguards should also not be treated as a red line when other countries demand they are broken in trade agreements, according to the paper drawn up by officials in the Department for International Trade (DIT).

The paper, which has not been seen or approved by cabinet, was drawn up for a cross-Whitehall working group and circulated around 120 Whitehall officials in recent days.