On Thursday 15 July, Sir David Amess asked the Minister for International Trade to negotiate an economic partnership with the Maldives. Sir David is the Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Maldives and regularly communicates with Maldivian representatives about their sustainable tuna fishing industry.

Sir David Amess said:

While I wholeheartedly congratulate the Government on the agreements negotiated so far, as the chairman of the all-party parliamentary group for the Maldives, I urge my hon. Friend, following our meeting, to negotiate something that is slightly different, an economic partnership agreement, with the Maldives Government, which would benefit not only our country but the core industry of sustainable tuna fishing in the Maldives in the light of COP26.

Ranil Jayawardena replied:

It was a pleasure to meet my hon. Friend recently to discuss trade policy regarding the Maldives. He will know that we have agreed trade deals covering 31 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries already, showing our belief in trade for development. I can confirm to him that I am keen to find a route to short circuit the process of agreeing more trade deals like these with Commonwealth friends around the world.