Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will guarantee continued market access to the UK on current terms for exports from (a) Ghana, (b) Cameroon, (c) Côte d’Ivoire, (d) Kenya and (e) South Africa in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Government is seeking continuity in our trading arrangements on leaving the EU.
Most recently, on 10 September 2019, the UK initialled an Economic Partnership Agreement with the Southern African Customs Union and Mozambique (including South Africa). We will work at pace with our Southern African partners to sign the agreement and subsequently bring it into effect as quickly as possible.
We are continuing to work with other partner countries, including Ghana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya, to maintain their market access and replicate the effects of EU arrangements for when we need them, whether that is in the event of a no deal, or after an implementation period.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans he has to develop fair and ethical trade.
Answered by Conor Burns
As outlined in the White Paper, Preparing for our future UK trade policy, the Government is committed to a fair and rules-based approach to international trade. The UK has long supported the promotion of our values globally and this will continue as we leave the European Union.
The Department for International Trade and the Department for International Development are working together to ensure development and global prosperity are at the heart of UK trade and investment policy. We do this in several ways, including:
enhancing market access for poor countries through our trading arrangements;
ensuring that they can take advantage of this access through trade-related assistance (Aid for Trade); and
using our voice in organisations like the World Trade Organisation to argue for better and fairer trading rules for developing countries.
The Government will pursue economic prosperity for the UK and lead by example through our pursuit of free and fair trade.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on exporters to the UK based in developing countries.
Answered by Conor Burns
Our first priority is to deliver continuity in our trading arrangements with developing countries on leaving the EU to minimise trade disruption.
The Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Act enables the UK to put in place a UK trade preferences scheme for developing countries. This will provide the same level of access as the current EU trade preference scheme by granting duty-free, quota-free access to around 48 Least Developed Countries and tariff reductions to other developing countries.
It remains our priority to replicate the effects of seven EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The UK has signed EPAs with Eastern and Southern Africa states, Pacific states and CARIFORUM states. This will provide continuity for businesses, exporters and consumers as the UK prepares to leave the EU. We are continuing to work with other partner countries to have agreements in place ready for when we need them, whether that is in the event of no deal, or after an implementation period.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will guarantee continued market access to the UK on current terms to (a) Ghana, (b) Cameroon, (c) Côte d’Ivoire, (d) Kenya and (e) South Africa in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Conor Burns
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans she has to develop fair and ethical trade.
Answered by Conor Burns
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what representations the Government has made to the (a) White House and (b) US Department of Commerce on the imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to the US.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government has and will continue to make representations to the US Administration, at the highest levels on the proposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. The Prime Minister raised the UK's concerns personally with President Trump on 4 March.
The Government has made clear that it does not support these tariffs and is working closely with affected UK businesses and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the US’s proposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports on international trade relations.
Answered by Greg Hands
We have a long-standing and special relationship with the US. The US and UK are strong partners and allies and the US-UK economic and security relationship is crucially important.
As the Prime Minister outlined to President Trump, when she raised the UK's concerns relating to these tariffs on 4 March, multilateral action is the best way to resolve the problem of global overcapacity, in commodities such as steel and aluminium. The Government is continuing to make representations to the US Administration, at the highest levels on the proposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the US’s proposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports on the future negotiation of a strong trading partnership between the US and UK after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Greg Hands
The United States and United Kingdom are strong partners and allies. The US-UK bilateral trading relationship is an important one and vital to our economy. Total trade between the UK and US in 2016 was £167.6bn and both sides have committed to deepening our commercial relationship further.
The Government has made representations to the US Administration at the highest levels, on the proposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, including when the Prime Minister raised the UK's concerns with President Trump.
We will continue our positive and productive conversations with the US, on strengthening our bilateral trade and investment relationship, through the UK-US Trade and Investment Working Group.