Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to publish a Strategic Approach document for prospective US trade negotiations.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
As the Prime Minister said on 27 February, we’ve decided to work with the United States on a new economic deal with advanced technology at its core. We will set out more details as discussions evolve.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what (a) oversight and (b) governance procedures will prospective US-UK trade negotiations be subject to from (i) Parliament and (ii) external stakeholders.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Any treaty signed between the UK and the US that requires ratification will be subject to the scrutiny procedure under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The CRaG process requires that a treaty, along with an Explanatory Memorandum, be laid before Parliament for 21 joint sitting days before the treaty can be ratified.
The Government will engage with external stakeholders, and it will also provide comprehensive information with Parliament, including negotiating objectives, in line with our commitment to a transparent trade policy.
The Government will work with relevant select committees to ensure proper parliamentary scrutiny of any trade negotiations between the UK and the US.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what are the criteria by which it would be determined whether any prospective trade treaty between the UK and the US that does not deal with substantially all trade would be subject to scrutiny under the Constitutional Reform and Government Act 2010.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Part 2 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 is the statutory framework for the parliamentary scrutiny of all legally binding international agreements, regardless of the extent to which the relevant international agreement deals with trade, either substantially or in part. The criteria for an international agreement being subject to the provisions of the Act is set out in sections 23 and 25 of the Act.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Harrington Review of Foreign Direct Investment, published on 22 November 2023, what recent progress his Department has made on implementing (a) the recommendation on a concierge service for new investors and (b) other recommendations.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is continuing to deliver on the recommendations set out in the Harrington Review. That includes launching our new, modern Industrial Strategy, that will set out our vision for growth. In parallel, we are expanding the Office for Investment (OfI) which will continue to provide a concierge service for strategically important businesses and investors, with additional commercial capability, and will have a presence across the country, to work with Mayors and Devolved Administrations so that investors have access to the most attractive and commercially credible opportunities in our nations and regions.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what representations he has made to the (a) US Department of Commerce and (b) Office of the US Trade Representative on (i) digital services tax, (ii) value added tax and (iii) other regulatory issues relevant to the US proposals for reciprocal tariffs.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Secretary of State has been having regular, constructive conversations with the US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, to make the case for stronger UK-US trade that benefits both our countries.
We will continue to work with the US and highlight the importance of free and open trade, and we will always do what is in the national interest for our economy, businesses and the British people.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the end of the US tariff rate quota on UK steel and aluminium exports from 12 March 2025 on (a) economic growth and (b) levels of exports in quarter (i) one and (ii) two of 2025.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
My Department continues to engage closely with the industries affected by the US’ termination of its tariff rate quotas on steel and aluminium and to assess the potential impact on UK exports. We are resolute in our support for the UK steel and aluminium industry, which is vital to the UK economy. We have committed up to £2.5 billion to rebuild the steel sector. Our upcoming Steel Strategy will be published in the Spring. We will continue to make the case for a UK exemption to these tariffs.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the implementation of the US reciprocal tariffs proposal on UK steel and aluminium exports from 12 March 2025 on (a) economic growth and (b) levels of exports.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
My Department continues to engage closely with the industries affected by the implementation of the US’ reciprocal tariffs proposal. We are resolute in our support for the UK steel and aluminium industry, which is vital to the UK economy. We have committed up to £2.5 billion to rebuild the steel sector and our upcoming Steel Strategy will be published in the Spring. We will continue to make a strong case for a UK exemption to these tariffs.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on free trade negotiations with that country.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Business and Trade Secretary travelled to New Delhi in February where he engaged closely with his counterpart, Minister Goyal, to relaunch and progress negotiations towards a deal that delivers on our mutual interests of economic growth.
Following from this they are continuing to work together closely to direct negotiating teams, capitalise on the positive momentum, and secure a deal that strengthens our trade and investment relationship.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many enquiries his Department has received on the EU Regulation on General Product Safety in each month between June 2024 and January 2025.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department has received more than 500 queries on the new GPSR since June 2024, with the majority coming in December 2024. Officials have responded to these queries in a timely manner.
Government has been raising awareness of the regulation through its own channels as well as through trusted stakeholders, which falls under standard operating costs for the Department. We have published guidance on GPSR in Northern Ireland, which we will keep under review, and continue to engage directly with businesses.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much his Department has spent on increasing awareness of the EU Regulation on General Product Safety.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department has received more than 500 queries on the new GPSR since June 2024, with the majority coming in December 2024. Officials have responded to these queries in a timely manner.
Government has been raising awareness of the regulation through its own channels as well as through trusted stakeholders, which falls under standard operating costs for the Department. We have published guidance on GPSR in Northern Ireland, which we will keep under review, and continue to engage directly with businesses.