Asked by: Jonathan Lord (Conservative - Woking)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent progress her Department has made on securing UK membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK continues to make good progress on negotiating accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, having demonstrated to members of the partnership that we are a high-standards, fair trading economy. In person market access negotiations were held in Tokyo in July, followed by a subsequent round in Sydney in October.
Negotiations will continue over the coming months; the UK will take the time needed to ensure that accession takes place on terms that are right for British business and interests.
Asked by: Jonathan Lord (Conservative - Woking)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to increase trade opportunities for the UK financial services sector.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for International Trade is committed to increasing trade opportunities for the UK financial services sector. We work closely with the sector through Trade Advisory Group forums, to secure their input to develop our ambitious free trade agreements programme. We identify overseas market access barriers and work to remove them through our overseas Post network. Together with a wide range of industry organisations we promote the UK’s world class financial services sector in key areas such as asset management, insurance, green and sustainable finance as well as supporting fintech and insuretech providers to enter high growth overseas markets.
Asked by: Jonathan Lord (Conservative - Woking)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent progress her Department has made on tackling barriers to exports by British food and farming businesses.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Removing barriers boosts exports to familiar markets and unlocks new ones. In the financial year 2021-22, we resolved 192 barriers across 79 countries. This has included opening the markets for UK poultry meat to Japan and UK pork to Mexico and Chile.
Most recently, the first export of British lamb was sent to the USA in October, for the first time in over 20 years. Now millions of USA consumers will be able to enjoy British lamb on their dinner plates. Industry estimates the market for lamb to the USA is worth an estimated £37m over the first five years.
Asked by: Jonathan Lord (Conservative - Woking)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent progress she has made with her G7 counterparts on advocating for free and fair trade throughout the world.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
In May, G7 Trade Ministers united in their commitment to free and fair trade; to a global trading system with open markets; and to ensuring the multilateral trading system is reformed, responding to the needs of the British people and others around the world.
Ministers committed to protect individuals from forced labour in global supply chains, and to work together in tackling market distorting practices that threaten the integrity of the rules-based trading system.
Asked by: Jonathan Lord (Conservative - Woking)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent progress her Department has made on negotiating a free trade agreement with India.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
British trade with India has averaged around £20 billion over recent years. The Indian market is huge, and the scope for growth is great. My Rt hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced an Enhanced Trade Partnership with India in May, which addresses some immediate market access barriers and sets out our intent to negotiate a free trade agreement. My Department has since launched a public consultation, which closes on 31st August, to give businesses the opportunity to share their experiences of trading with India. A deal would make it easier for British businesses to succeed in India’s dynamic market, driving growth and supporting jobs across the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Jonathan Lord (Conservative - Woking)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent steps her Department has taken to support British farmers and food producers to increase their global sales.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for International Trade is working with farming and food organisations to deliver tailored export support to our agriculture, food and drink producers. Our ‘Open Doors’ campaign offers a wide range of support for businesses who want to start exporting or expand into new markets, including exporting masterclasses and a flagship agriculture mentoring programme. The DIT Export Academy also provides a variety of educational programmes supporting businesses to grow internationally and increase their sales.
Asked by: Jonathan Lord (Conservative - Woking)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent progress her Department has made in resolving trade disputes between the UK and the US on large civil aircraft.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK has struck an historic deal with the US on the Airbus-Boeing disputes, which comes six months after the UK made the first move to de-escalate the conflict by suspending retaliatory tariffs.
The arrangement will maintain for five years the suspension of harmful retaliatory tariffs, which hit producers of iconic UK goods such as cashmere, machinery, and single-malt Scotch whisky, and it establishes a framework for continued cooperation.
The UK and US will now work together to put the arrangement into practice and strengthen their collaborative and constructive relationship in the large civil aircraft sector.
Asked by: Jonathan Lord (Conservative - Woking)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent progress she has made for the UK to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
On Monday 1st February, the Government submitted its notification of intent to begin the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) accession process. This is the first step towards accession before formal negotiations start later in the year.
We will publish our negotiation objectives, scoping analysis, and consultation response in advance of the start of formal negotiations, expected in Spring 2021.
Asked by: Jonathan Lord (Conservative - Woking)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent steps she has taken to reduce unfair tariffs on UK exports.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As an independent trading nation, the UK is looking to strike successful trade deals with partners worldwide. We are seeking trade deals which will benefit businesses across the UK by reducing tariffs and offering preferential treatment to UK exports.
The Department for International Trade is currently negotiating with the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. We will use our voice as a newly independent trading nation to champion free trade, fight protectionism and remove barriers at every opportunity.
Asked by: Jonathan Lord (Conservative - Woking)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the timetable is for the publication of the tariff schedule for the possibility of a no-deal scenario.
Answered by George Hollingbery
In the event of no deal, the Government will determine and publish its UK duty rates before we leave the EU in accordance with the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act.
For bound rates, we have already lodged our UK only General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) schedule at the WTO and will have also lodged our UK only General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) schedule.