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Written Question
Tuna: Maldives
Wednesday 21st December 2022

Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the 20 per cent tariff for tuna exported from the Maldives to the UK given (1) the sustainability of the Maldivian tuna industry, and (2) the zero tariff for tuna exports from all other members of the Commonwealth small island developing states (SIDS).

Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK currently applies the UK Global Tariff of 20% to imports of tuna from the Maldives. This rate is also applied to imports from all other trading partners where preferential arrangements are not in place.

The Government continues to explore pragmatic opportunities to enhance bilateral trade relations with the Maldives in areas of mutual interest, including fishing.


Written Question
Tobacco: UK Trade with EU
Wednesday 2nd December 2020

Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the impact of the imposition of the UK Global Tariff on imports of tobacco products from the EU from 1 January 2021, in the event that a free trade agreement includes Rules of Origin requirements which require more than 10 per cent originating leaf.

Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

The UK Government intends to achieve a Free Trade Agreement with the EU by the end of December 2020.

The UK Global Tariff (UKGT) is tailored to the UK economy and balances the interests of UK consumers and producers. In designing the UKGT, we assessed all available evidence submitted during the public consultation in depth and considered a range of factors, such as the five principles set out in the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018.

More analysis will be published in the Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) alongside the legislation, as is standard practice.


Written Question
Tobacco: Smuggling
Tuesday 1st December 2020

Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the imposition of the UK Global Tariff on the import of finished tobacco products from 1 January 2021 on forecast levels of smuggling of (1) tobacco products, and (2) counterfeit tobacco products, into the UK.

Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) remains committed to promoting compliance and tackling avoidance and evasion. Guidance on how manufacturers and importers of tobacco products can avoid the facilitation of smuggling is available on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-notice-477-tobacco-products-duty-control-of-supply-chains.

Additionally, to ensure compliance with new customs procedures and controls at the border after transition period ends, on 12 July 2020, the Government announced an investment package of £705m.

Additionally, to ensure compliance with new customs procedures and controls at the border after transition period ends, the Government announced on 12 July 2020?an investment?package of?£705m for enhanced infrastructure, staffing and IT.

We will publish more analysis?on the?UK?Global Tariff in?the Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) alongside the legislation, as is standard practice.