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<p>The UK is proud to be the first country to develop an Action Plan on Business and
Human Rights. This was jointly launched by the Foreign Office and Department of Business,
Innovation and Skills (BIS) in September 2013. <br><br>The UK has a series of established
agreements which are negotiated with partner countries through the EU. These agreements
form the basis of our trade relations with most countries in the Middle East. <br>
<br>All association agreements, which include trade chapters, with third countries
contain a clause stipulating that human rights are an essential element in relations
between the parties. <br><br>No aspect of the UK’s commercial relationships with countries
in the Middle East prevents us from speaking frankly and openly to them about human
rights. We will not pursue trade to the exclusion of human rights. They can and should
be complementary.</p>
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