Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will take steps to negotiate a reduction in the high tariffs on British-made tableware imported to the USA for use in hotels and restaurants.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
We know how important the US market is for the UK ceramics industry, and we will make the case for the reduction of these tariffs when an opportunity arises. This will most likely need to be in the form of free trade agreement negotiations, given World Trade Organisation restrictions. The UK is ready to progress negotiations on a UK-US Free Trade Agreement when the US is ready to do so.
In our continued engagement with the sector and when these negotiations proceed, we will factor in the tableware industry’s interests into our strategies and approach.
In the meantime, we continue to make it easier to sell iconic British tableware in other overseas markets. Thanks to our recently signed UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement and UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, British tableware exporters will benefit from the removal of 5% tariffs on their products when exporting to Australia and New Zealand.
Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department has taken to help increase global export opportunities for British ceramics.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The British ceramics industry is world-renowned and can access new markets more easily through our future Free Trade Agreements. For example, in June, we reached Agreement in Principle with Australia. This fundamentally liberalising agreement removes tariffs on all UK exports, including ceramics.
Alongside our trade deals, we provide a range of exporting support to help businesses grow internationally, including trade advisers locally and overseas; financial exporting support from UK Export Finance’s specialists; access to the UK Export Academy and the Digital Exporting Programme. This includes access to one-to-one guidance on digital sales and marketing.
Businesses interested in more information on export opportunities for British ceramics can visit https://www.great.gov.uk/.
Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department has taken to promote investment into the UK economy.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The UK is a leading destination for foreign investment; second in the world for inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stocks with $2.1 trillion, behind the USA in 2019.
In 2019/20, the Department for International Trade provided support for 1,449 FDI projects, creating almost 45,000 new jobs and safeguarding a further 8,000. In November 2020 the Prime Minister announced a new Office for Investment within the Department, but under the sponsorship of 10 Downing Street, to support strategic investment. We are also prioritising regional investment and growth through our High Potential Opportunities Programme.
Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that SMEs in (a) Stoke-on-Trent and (b) Staffordshire can benefit from future free trade agreements.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department is providing tailored regional activity to ensure Small & Medium Enterprises (SME’s) can fully benefit from the opportunities that Free Trade Agreements provide. In Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, we have added resources through our Midlands-based regional teams to manage this activity. We have recruited a dedicated International Trade Adviser (ITA) within the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to work with the LEP on their strategic trade priorities and on promoting the benefits of all future trade agreements. We also founded the Export Academy to provide businesses with the knowledge, skills, and tools to develop and export plan and implement it. Future activity will focus on a combination of online offerings, trade missions, and direct one-to-one support from our dedicated team of 6 International Trade Advisers that cover Stoke and Staffordshire.
Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits for the ceramics industry of free trade agreements with countries other than the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The British ceramics industry is world-renowned and will be able to more easily access new markets around the globe, through our future Free Trade Agreements. The impacts and benefits of Britain’s new trade deals, including those she will be rolling over, will be outlined in the Scoping Assessments, Parliamentary Reports and future Impact Assessments that will be published by HM Government.
Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress she has made in securing a free trade agreement with the US.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The fourth UK-US Free Trade Agreement negotiating round took place from 8 September to 18 September 2020. A Written Ministerial Statement was published on 22 September 2020, updating parliament on the progress of the round.
Significant progress has been achieved since launching negotiations in May 2020, and talks are at an advanced stage. Negotiators are now in the process of consolidating texts in most chapters.
Shortly before the 4th negotiating round both sides exchanged their first tariff offers, allowing a series of detailed market access discussions to be held during the round- a notable milestone which demonstrates momentum.
In parallel to the negotiations, the International Trade Secretary held a series of key meetings with the United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer. They share an ambition for a comprehensive trade agreement. The UK has been clear there is no set deadline for agreeing a deal.
In total, 162 sessions have been held over four negotiating rounds. The fifth round of talks will take place later in October, with additional intersessional discussions taking place in the meantime.
Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to encourage inward investment into the UK.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The UK is a leading destination for foreign investment; it is second in the world for inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stocks behind the USA, and also attracted £37 billion of Private Equity and £6 billion of Venture Capital involving foreign investors in 2019.
The Department for International Trade promotes the UK as a leading destination for foreign investment and supports foreign investors. For example, the Department’s High Potential Opportunities Programme identifies specific investment opportunities across the UK.
The Department supported 1,449 FDI projects during the 2019/20 Financial Year, which created 45,000 new jobs and safeguarded a further 8,000.
Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress she has made on negotiating a free trade agreement with the US.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The third negotiating round took place from 27 July to 7 August 2020, and the next round starts on 8 September. Updates are published on gov.uk after every round.
In parallel to the negotiations, in late August the International Trade Secretary held a series of meetings with the United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, in which they reviewed progress in the negotiations. The International Trade Secretary reasserted the UK’s priorities in a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and both sides reaffirmed their commitment to negotiating a comprehensive and ambitious agreement. It was agreed that they should continue at pace throughout the Autumn.
Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent steps she has taken to reduce tariffs on British ceramic exports.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
When exporting products, such as ceramics, to a third country, tariffs will depend on the third country’s own tariff schedule and whether the UK has a trade agreement in place with them.
We are seeking to secure Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with global trading partners, such as Japan, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand which will open new markets for UK businesses. This is part of our wider ambition for 80% of UK trade to be covered by FTAs within three years.
Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to engage with ceramic businesses as part of negotiating free trade agreements.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The Department will continue to speak regularly with the ceramics industry, so that the new Free Trade Agreements we are seeking with trading partners such as the US, Japan and Australia and New Zealand work for British businesses.
Our new Trade Advisory Groups (TAGs), including a dedicated “British Manufactured and Consumer Goods TAG”, support our engagement with businesses across the whole of the British economy. Businesses’ expertise and advice will be critical to helping our negotiators deliver key industry asks that benefit every corner of our country, including tariffs on products like ceramics.
The ceramics industry has emphasised the market access opportunities that exist in the US ceramics market, specifically in kitchenware and tableware. High tariffs there, of up to 28%, are currently a significant trade barrier.