International economic relations
This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on international economic relations. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.
Standard Notes
| 11.05.2012 | GDP - International comparisons: Economic Indicators page |
| UK output contracted by 0.2% in Q1 2012, while US output expanded by 0.5% over the same period. In Q4 2011, with the exceptions of the US, France and Canada, all the G7 countries saw a contraction in output. The UK economy and the eurozone contracted by 0.3% in Q4 2011. |
| 11.05.2012 | Unemployment - International Comparisons: Economic Indicators page |
| Using harmonised definitions, UK unemployment was 8.4% in Q4 2011, up from 8.2% in Q3 2011. UK unemployment in Q4 was below that of France and Italy but above that of Germany. In the US, unemployment fell from 8.7% to 8.3% between Q4 2011 and Q1 2012, continuing its sharp decline of the previous quarter. Compared with a year ago unemployment is 0.7%-points lower. |
| 24.04.2012 | UK-Brazil trade statistics |
| This short note looks at the available UK/Brazil trade statistics |
| 19.04.2012 | The IMF's resources |
| The IMF's resources come from quotas contributed by each of its 187 Member States (around £234bn in total) and from standing credit arrangements with certain industrialised and emerging economies (currently around £215bn). |
| 30.03.2012 | In brief: provisions of the eurozone fiscal compact and economic issues |
| This note describes the 'fiscal compact' agreed by 25 EU Member States in March 2012 and associated economic issues. |
Research Papers
| 25.02.2010 | Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill [Bill 17 of 2009-10] |
| The Bill seeks to limit the amount that can be recovered by any commercial creditor of those countries designated as having unsustainable external debts. The legislation would restrict the activities of so-called 'vulture funds', which buy developing countries' sovereign debt at discounted prices, then seek to recover its value in full through the courts. It would limit successful claims to an internationally agreed level and apply equally to all commercial creditors. It would cover the 40 countries in the IMF/World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Debts incurred after the Bill's entry into force would be excluded. |
| 05.06.2009 | War and peace in Sri Lanka |
| This paper provides a brief historical and social survey of Sri Lanka, including the origins of the conflict between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE. It then gives an account of developments since 2002, when a ceasefire was agreed and hopes were raised - rapidly to be dashed - that there might be a peaceful negotiated resolution of the conflict. The paper also surveys the stance taken by the international community on the conflict, the military capabilities of the Sri Lankan military, and aid and development issues. It concludes by considering Sri Lanka's future prospects, including assessing how real the Government's military victory is and whether genuine political and constitutional reforms are likely to be introduced. |
| 05.12.2008 | Turkey Today |
| Turkey Today: An overview of the main issues affecting Turkey today |
| 02.05.2007 | An economic introduction to India |
| An economic introduction to India. House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/40. |
| 19.06.2006 | A Political and Economic Introduction to China |
| A Political and Economic Introduction to China. House of Commons Library Research Paper 06/36 |
Early Day Motions
| 22.10.2008 | TRANSPARENCY OF CARBON MARKETS |
| That this House believes that carbon trading can play an important role in combating climate change, but that confidence in such an approach can only be maintained if such markets are ... |
| 13.10.2008 | ASSISTANCE TO ICELAND |
| That this House is concerned that instead of helping the UK's old ally and friend Iceland in its financial crisis, and taking concerted measures with the Icelandic government to help ... |
| 15.07.2008 | LABOUR FRIENDS OF IRAQ DELEGATION VISIT TO BAGHDAD |
| That this House notes the recent Labour Friends of Iraq delegation to Baghdad as guests of the Islamic Dawa Party to meet the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, his advisers, the ... |
| 23.04.2008 | EUROPEAN UNION SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA |
| That this House welcomes the recognition by Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, who recently visited Cuba, that European Union sanctions against ... |
