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Written Question
Whisky: USA
Tuesday 8th March 2022

Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department has plans to remove the 25 per cent import tariff on US whiskey.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

According to HMRC data, UK imports of targeted US whiskies have fallen from £121m in 2017 to £82m in 2019 and, in the context of continued tariffs and the pandemic, to £64m in 2020 and £63m in 2021


Our rebalancing measures are necessary only as long as the US’ additional tariffs on UK steel, aluminium and derivatives products remain in place


It is a key priority of the government to reach an agreement to remove these tariffs. We are in negotiations with the US and look forward to coming to an expeditious resolution to this issue.


Written Question
Whisky: USA
Tuesday 8th March 2022

Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of US whiskey imports since the introduction of tariffs in 2018.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

According to HMRC data, UK imports of targeted US whiskies have fallen from £121m in 2017 to £82m in 2019 and, in the context of continued tariffs and the pandemic, to £64m in 2020 and £63m in 2021


Our rebalancing measures are necessary only as long as the US’ additional tariffs on UK steel, aluminium and derivatives products remain in place


It is a key priority of the government to reach an agreement to remove these tariffs. We are in negotiations with the US and look forward to coming to an expeditious resolution to this issue.


Written Question
Trade Agreements: USA
Thursday 19th November 2020

Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

What progress she has made in securing a free trade agreement with the US.

Answered by Elizabeth Truss

The fifth UK-U.S. Free Trade Agreement negotiating round finished 30 October. I'm happy to report that substantial progress has been made, with almost all chapter areas are now in the advanced stages of talks, and a significant proportion of legal text has been agreed across multiple chapters.


Written Question
Job Creation: East Midlands
Wednesday 31st July 2019

Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he has taken to support job creation from foreign direct investment in the East Midlands.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In 2016 the Department for International Trade established the Midlands Engine Investment Hub which has developed several sector-based investment propositions for the Foreign Direct Investment offer in key Midlands sectors, including the East Midlands. These are now promoted widely within DIT’s International network.

There were 69 investment projects that landed in the East Midlands in tax year 2018-2019, with 1,823 associated new jobs.

On 30 July the first East Midlands proposition within DIT’s High Potential Opportunities programme was launched. This showcases the Leicester Space Park offer and will be promoted to a targeted list of overseas investors.


Written Question
Exports: East Midlands
Tuesday 30th April 2019

Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent steps the Government has taken to enable small businesses in the East Midlands to increase their exports.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In the East Midlands a network of 24 experienced International Trade Advisers provide DIT's face to face service, supported by UK Export Finance Advisors when appropriate. They provide new and existing exporters with practical exporting advice and market know-how, and connect them to DIT's trade missions, sector specialists and wider international network.

Additionally, peer to peer support is provided through DIT's Export Champion community, part of the Exporting is GREAT campaign. East Midlands has 34 business leaders with a record of export success who help us to inspire other local businesses on their exporting journey: "if we can, you can".

The Exporting is GREAT campaign works closely with hundreds of UK companies and scores of partners to encourage more companies to start exporting or to export more. Further information on how DIT supports UK exporters can be found at www.great.gov.uk.


Written Question
Foreign Investment in UK: East Midlands
Tuesday 6th November 2018

Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to increase the level of foreign direct investment into the East Midlands.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In 2016 the Department for International Trade (DIT) established a dedicated taskforce to deliver bespoke activity to attract foreign direct investment into the Midlands Engine, including the East Midlands. This activity includes: full profiling of the key sectors and showcasing these at events overseas; working with DIT’s overseas network and local partners across the region to deliver tailored support to promote individual areas as a destination for investment; international promotion of a portfolio of Midlands capital investment opportunities, including 10 projects from the East Midlands; and provision of funding for local partners to collaborate and amplify investment messaging, such as attendance at the MIPIM property show in Cannes.

There were 72 investment projects that landed in the East Midlands in tax year 2017-2018. There were 3714 associated new jobs. This is the highest number of new jobs from foreign direct investment in the East Midlands for 3 years.


Written Question
Overseas Trade: East Midlands
Friday 6th July 2018

Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps the Government is taking to enable businesses in the East Midlands to increase their international trade after the UK leaves the EU.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In the East Midlands, a network of 24 highly experienced local International Trade Advisers act as the Department for International Trade's (DIT) face to face contact with local businesses. They provide both new and existing exporters with expert trade advice, market know-how and practical support for international growth, and connect them to DIT’s sector specialists and its wider international network.

UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency, helps businesses in the East Midlands win, fulfil and get paid for their overseas sales. For instance, UKEF is currently providing a rolling working capital facility to support exports from Norton Motorcycles, based in Castle Donnington near Derby, as it grows its brand in Asian markets.


Written Question
Trade Promotion: Commonwealth
Monday 18th June 2018

Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to support small and medium-sized businesses to trade with other Commonwealth countries after the UK leaves the EU.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

It is important that we continue to look at reducing trade barriers bilaterally which will benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We are doing this through our current Working Groups with countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and India. Intra Commonwealth trade in goods and services is estimated to be $560bn and projected to reach $700bn by 2020.

In addition, the Department participated actively throughout the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London where my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade announced policies to help boost intra-Commonwealth trade. This included the launch of the Commonwealth Standards Network to increase the use of international standards across the Commonwealth, which will support private and public-sector users of standards, including SMEs. A trade facilitation programme was also announced which provides technical assistance to selected countries in implementing the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement.