Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the UK’s domestic biodiesel industry of authorisations which allow imports of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil free from normal import duties.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The rate of customs duty on imported Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is 0%, due to an existing tariff suspension. If HVO is imported into the UK under Inward Processing (IP), liability to import VAT is suspended and becomes payable if the processed goods enter the home market.
A review into the UK’s anti-dumping measure on HVO imported from the US and Canada is currently underway. The Trade Remedies Authority published a Statement of Essential Facts last year which proposed revoking the measure on HVO which interested parties had the opportunity to respond to.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what errors, if any, have been identified in the Political, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership Agreement with Ukraine; and what is the status of that agreement until any errors have been rectified.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The United Kingdom-Ukraine Political, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership Agreement is in force and operating effectively. It is standard practice for agreements to be amended, corrected or updated over time, depending upon individual circumstances. However, there are no plans for a wholesale reopening of the agreement.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of each of the continuity trade agreements that they have signed since leaving the EU on their plans for freeports and, in particular, the tariffs paid by companies based in freeports.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
There is ongoing analysis on the benefits arising from freeports; the outcomes of this will shape how British businesses, including those utilising preferences as a result of the United Kingdom’s signed continuity agreements, can best make use of the opportunities that freeports create.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the likely availability of lithium in 2030, and (2) the likely price of lithium on the world market in 2030.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
HM Government has conducted an assessment of critical mineral supply chains, including lithium, and is considering a range of options to secure a resilient critical minerals supply.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last met the Director of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the impact on businesses of changes to export and import arrangements which will be required following the end of the transition period in December.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Department for International Trade (DIT) engages regularly with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on a range of trade issues, including arrangements for business in the post-transition period. Along with other cross-cutting business representative groups CBI senior leaders have met with DIT Ministers to discuss business trade priorities since the creation of the Department in 2016. CBI is a member of DIT’s Strategic Trade Advisory Group (STAG) and the Export Trade Advisory Groups (ETAG) for customs, investment and trade for development; CBI is also an established partner and supporter of DIT’s Exporting is GREAT campaign
On 6 April, my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade had a call with CBI’s Director General, Carolyn Fairbairn, in which they discussed DIT’s key priorities as an independent trading nation. These included the UK Global Tariff, preparations for Free Trade Agreements, the Trade Remedies Authority and looking at the future of trade post-C19 and the future of supply chains. The latter covered DIT’s export and investment strategies which will support UK exporters and provide stimulus to UK business and trade.