This was a matter where the consent of the National Assembly for Wales was sought by the UK Government to legislate on an issue which could normally fall within the competence of the Assembly.

The Trade Bill was part of the framework being established to allow the UK to enter into trade deals with Third Countries that currently had such deals with the European Union.

The Bill was laid before the House of Commons by the UK Government on 7 November 2017 and completed the Committee Stage in the House of Commons 1 February 2018.

On 7 December 2017, the Welsh Government laid a Legislative Consent Memorandum in relation to the Trade Bill before the Assembly. Suggested amendments to the Bill were published by the Welsh Government on 18 January 2018. 

The External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee published its report on the Trade Bill: legislative consent and other associated issues on Friday 9 March 2018.

The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee published its report on the Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Trade Bill on Friday 16 March 2018.

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memoranda

A supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (No. 2) was laid by the Welsh Government on 14 February 2019.

The Business Committee agreed that the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee and the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee should report on the Bill by 11 March 2019.

The External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee published its supplementary report: The Trade Bill - Second report on legislative consent and associated issues on Friday 8 March 2019.

The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee published its report on the Welsh Government’s Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No 2) on the Trade Bill on Monday 11 March.

The National Assembly for Wales voted to give consent to the Trade Bill on 12 March 2019. 

Following an amendment to the Bill, a further supplementary LCM was debated in Plenary on 21 May 2019.

Consequently, the National Assembly voted in favour of the Bill being considered further by the UK Parliament.

The Bill failed to complete its passage through UK Parliament before Dissolution. This meant the Bill made no further progress.