Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the export potential for green compressed natural gas.
Answered by Graham Stuart
No assessment has been undertaken by the Department for International Trade of the export potential for green compressed natural gas.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the future role of that Government’s trade offices.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Department for International Trade (DIT) engages extensively with the Devolved Administrations on all trade policy issues and the formulation of trade negotiation positions. I have regular contact with my Welsh Government counterpart, and in January I hosted the inaugural meeting of the Ministerial Forum for Trade, which will play an important role in ensuring that the voices of all the nations of the UK are considered as negotiations progress. DIT also runs a substantial programme of official level engagement, including our Senior Officials Group and regular policy engagement, to ensure DA views are inputted at all levels and all stages of the process.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress she has made on trade negotiations with Algeria.
Answered by Conor Burns
We have been in dialogue with all our trading partners around the world to ensure continuity of our current trading arrangements at the end of the Transition Period. Discussions with Algeria are ongoing, and I have personally visited Algeria to drive this agenda forward. These discussions will continue throughout the Transition Period.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department has made an assessment of the carbon footprint of each economic sector in its trade strategy.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department for International Trade is considering how to factor climate change and environmental impacts into the Government’s trade strategy, in order to drive the transition to a more sustainable global economy, whilst delivering economic benefits for the UK.
The Government is committed to tackling climate change at home and overseas. That is why we were the first major economy to legislate for net zero emission by 2050 and we will be targeting ambitious action to deliver on the promise of the 2015 Paris Agreement during our presidency of COP26 this year.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, on what dates the UK-US trade and investment working group has met.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The United Kingdom cannot sign or negotiate trade agreements whilst still a member of the European Union, which we are until 29 March 2019.
In July 2017 my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade launched the UK-US Trade and Investment Working Group which has since met on five occasions on the following dates: 24-25 July 2017, 13-14 November 2017, 21-22 March 2018, 10-11 July 2018 and 2-7 November 2018.
The working group’s aim is to provide commercial continuity for US and UK businesses, workers, and consumers as the UK leaves the EU and explore ways to strengthen trade and investment ties ahead of the exit. The group is also laying the groundwork to ensure that both sides are well prepared to open trade negotiations after the UK leaves the EU in 2019.
Our 14-week long public consultations on potential future trade agreements with the United States, Australia and New Zealand and on the UK’s potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) closed on 26 October.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what his timetable is for agreeing a trade deal with the US.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The United Kingdom cannot sign or negotiate trade agreements whilst still a member of the European Union, which we are until 29 March 2019.
In July 2017 my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade launched the UK-US Trade and Investment Working Group which has since met on five occasions on the following dates: 24-25 July 2017, 13-14 November 2017, 21-22 March 2018, 10-11 July 2018 and 2-7 November 2018.
The working group’s aim is to provide commercial continuity for US and UK businesses, workers, and consumers as the UK leaves the EU and explore ways to strengthen trade and investment ties ahead of the exit. The group is also laying the groundwork to ensure that both sides are well prepared to open trade negotiations after the UK leaves the EU in 2019.
Our 14-week long public consultations on potential future trade agreements with the United States, Australia and New Zealand and on the UK’s potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) closed on 26 October.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made on securing a trade agreement with the US.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The United Kingdom cannot sign or negotiate trade agreements whilst still a member of the European Union, which we are until 29 March 2019.
In July 2017 my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade launched the UK-US Trade and Investment Working Group which has since met on five occasions on the following dates: 24-25 July 2017, 13-14 November 2017, 21-22 March 2018, 10-11 July 2018 and 2-7 November 2018.
The working group’s aim is to provide commercial continuity for US and UK businesses, workers, and consumers as the UK leaves the EU and explore ways to strengthen trade and investment ties ahead of the exit. The group is also laying the groundwork to ensure that both sides are well prepared to open trade negotiations after the UK leaves the EU in 2019.
Our 14-week long public consultations on potential future trade agreements with the United States, Australia and New Zealand and on the UK’s potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) closed on 26 October.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, who the members are of the UK-US trade and investment working group.
Answered by George Hollingbery
In July 2017 my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and the United States Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, jointly launched the UK-US Trade and Investment Working Group which has since met on five occasions.
The Trade and Investment Working Group delegations have been led by officials from the Department for International Trade and the Office of the United States Trade Representative. They have also included representatives from a wide range of UK and US Government departments and agencies.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions he has had on future trade agreements with (a) China and (b) India.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK is preparing to strengthen its trade ties with international partners, including China and India post EU-exit.
The UK and China are launching a Joint Trade and Investment Review to explore options to enhance their trade and investment relationship, without pre-judging outcomes. My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade, has visited China three times in 2018 to discuss our ambition for a strong trade partnership.
The UK-India Joint Trade Review, announced during the Prime Minister’s visit to India in 2016, has helped us better understand the UK-India trade relationship. In April, both Prime Ministers agreed to forge a new trade partnership, to take forward recommendations from the Review. My Rt Hon. Friend also visited India shortly after the Department for International Trade was formed.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many times each of the trade working groups have met.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We have established several working groups with trading partners to explore the best ways of progressing our trade and investment relationships.
In line with diplomatic practices, it would not be appropriate to take unilateral decisions on disclosing detailed information on engagements with our trading partners. Individual announcements and statements are available on the department’s website.