Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Whittingdale and Heather Wheeler

Thursday 23rd March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Sir John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con)]

18. What steps her Department is taking to help businesses increase their level of trade in the Indo-Pacific region.

[Mrs Heather Wheeler (South Derbyshire) (Con)]

20. What steps her Department is taking to help businesses increase their level of trade in the Indo-Pacific region.

[The Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Kemi Badenoch)]

We are currently negotiating accession to the comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-Pacific partnership, a bloc worth £9 trillion of global GDP in 2021. As part of that, our businesses will get enhanced access to the Malaysian market for the first time. Beyond CPTPP, we are continuing negotiations on the UK-India free trade agreement and working to implement FTAs with Australia and New Zealand, in addition to existing trade dialogues with Indo-Pacific partners.