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🇮🇱 Israel /Economy & Trade

UK working on plan to ban all trade with Israeli settlements, minister says

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The UK is developing a plan to ban all trade with Israeli settlements, according to Trade Minister Chris Bryant.
  • Bryant stated that the UK aims to move beyond labeling settlement goods to outright banning them, including services.
  • The minister acknowledged enforcement challenges, noting that the EU recently failed to reach a similar agreement.

The United Kingdom is actively preparing a comprehensive strategy to prohibit all import and export transactions with "illegal" Israeli settlements. Trade Minister Chris Bryant announced on Wednesday that the government intends to transition from merely labeling goods from these settlements to implementing a full ban.

It is time to move from simply labeling goods from illegal settlements to banning goods from illegal settlements.

— Chris BryantMinister for Trade Chris Bryant stated the UK's intention to ban goods from illegal settlements.

Bryant emphasized that the concern extends beyond physical goods to include services, which he described as potentially "just as problematic, if not more problematic." He cited examples such as UK companies providing financial support or services like accountancy and legal advice to those involved in settlement expansion. "We must address all four issues: import and export of goods and services," he told the Business and Trade Sub-Committee on Economic Security, Arms and Export Controls.

Obviously, these are illegal settlements, and they are expanding.

— Chris BryantMinister for Trade Chris Bryant commented on the nature of Israeli settlements.

Despite the "strong moral and legal argument" for such measures, Bryant acknowledged the significant enforcement challenges. He noted that tariffs on settlement goods can be circumvented if Israel labels them as its own produce. He also mentioned that counterparts in Spain and Ireland have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of their own measures. The Department for Business and Trade and the Foreign Office have been collaborating for months on a "serious plan of action," aiming to utilize existing sanctions frameworks rather than lengthy primary legislation.

No British business in any form should be involved in the sustenance or expansion of these settlements.

— Chris BryantMinister for Trade Chris Bryant outlined the UK's stance on business involvement with settlements.

The announcement comes as the European Union recently failed to reach a qualified majority on a similar ban. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, for her "obsessive campaign against Israel," stating that relations should be based on "dialogue and fairness."

We must address all four issues: import and export of goods and services.

— Chris BryantMinister for Trade Chris Bryant highlighted the scope of the proposed trade ban.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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