Newswise —
The British decision to become a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), one of the world's largest free trade agreements, has raised concerns among health experts, who warn of potential risks to public health in the UK, according to an article published in The BMJ.
The UK government's decision to join the CPTPP is driven by the aim to enhance trade, promote economic growth, and establish a stronger global presence in shaping regulations. However, experts including Courtney McNamara caution that free trade agreements have far-reaching effects on public health and policy decisions, as they bind countries to specific regulatory and legal commitments. In light of this, the authors urge the government to conduct a thorough health impact assessment before finalizing the agreement in 2023, in order to carefully evaluate the potential advantages and risks associated with this deal.
The experts highlight several potential threats to public health in the UK due to the CPTPP. One concern is that the agreement may hinder efforts to implement policies aimed at reducing tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food consumption. Clauses in the agreement could enable foreign corporations to challenge such regulations, making it more difficult to enact public health measures.
Furthermore, the CPTPP includes provisions that discourage a precautionary approach to food safety, which could limit the ability to ban products containing harmful pesticides and other hazardous substances.
Additionally, while some workers may benefit from increased exports and demand, leading to potential wage increases, the authors argue that workers in industries that face competition from cheaper imports and are unable to compete may experience economic insecurity and job losses, which can have significant health consequences.
These concerns highlight the need for careful consideration of the potential impacts on public health before finalizing the CPTPP agreement. The authors emphasize the importance of conducting a thorough health impact assessment to weigh the potential benefits against the risks to public health in the UK.
While the UK government has stated that joining the CPTPP will not result in lower health or food standards, the authors of the article acknowledge that the potential positive health effects from a boost in gross domestic product (GDP) are speculative.
The authors highlight that according to the UK government's own calculations, the economic benefits of joining the CPTPP would only result in a modest 0.08% increase in GDP over a 15-year period. Moreover, the government's calculations do not account for the implementation costs associated with changes in regulatory and dispute settlement rules, which the authors assert have not been evaluated at a national level.
This underscores the need for a comprehensive health impact assessment that takes into account the potential benefits, risks, and implementation costs of the CPTPP in order to fully understand its implications for public health in the UK.
The authors stress the importance of prioritizing public health in trade policies and urge the UK government to conduct a health impact assessment, in line with its commitment to "do no harm" as explicitly stated during Brexit negotiations. They acknowledge that despite the government's track record on public health, the evidence produced by such an assessment would be invaluable in identifying populations and communities at risk, and safeguarding their health during the implementation of the CPTPP.
If the government fails to undertake a health impact assessment, the authors emphasize that it would be incumbent upon public health scholars, professionals, and advocates to take action and mobilize to carry out this crucial work. Safeguarding public health should be a paramount consideration in trade policy decisions, and ensuring that potential risks and benefits are thoroughly evaluated is essential to protect the well-being of the population.
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