Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2026 to question 106487, what the value is of tariff duties the UK has not incurred through the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Through EPD negotiations, the UK has agreed preferential trading terms with the US in a range of sectors. This includes locking in a 10% “reciprocal” tariff, 0% for aerospace and pharmaceuticals, and 10% for cars within quota. The UK is also the only country to have avoided 50% steel and aluminium tariffs.
Discussions continue on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at addressing specific tariff and non-tariff barriers and increasing digital and services trade.
We will keep the House fully informed on these developments along with the expected economic outcomes of the final deal.
Impact assessments are completed at the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the value is of tariff duties the UK has avoided on its goods exports through the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal and any related updates to this agreement.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
UK goods exports to the US amounted to £63 billion in the 12 months to the end of September 2025.
Thanks to the Economic Prosperity Deal, the UK has secured 0% tariffs for the aerospace sector, preferential 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium and cut automotive tariffs to 10% within quota, protecting industries that export tens of billions to the US. The UK has also secured 0% tariffs for the pharmaceutical sector.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his Department expects the impact to be on UK GDP from an upgraded UK-Republic of Turkey agreement.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
It is too soon to presume on the final outcomes of FTA negotiations; we are making strong progress with a fourth negotiation round scheduled next month.
Turkey is an important trading partner for the UK, with bilateral trade worth £28 billion in the 12 months to September 2025, doubling in current prices over the past decade. The current agreement ensures tariff free trade on over 99% of goods but does not include any services provisions. This new deal will focus on the UK’s strengths in services, which account for 81% of GDP.
Once an upgraded UK–Turkey FTA is signed we will publish detailed information, alongside an impact assessment, including trade impacts.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to reply to the letter from the Rt hon. Member for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North of 3 December 2025, reference LB49226.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department aims to respond to correspondence within 15 working days. I apologise for the delay in responding and can confirm a response was issued on 20 January 2026.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, which (a) Department and (b) Minister have lead responsibility for the implementation of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal; and what (i) cross-government structures and (ii) processes are in place to coordinate its delivery.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade has lead responsibility for implementation of the General Terms of the UK‑US Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD), which sits within my Trade Policy portfolio, with overall oversight from the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
Delivery of the EPD draws on expertise from across government. Coordination is led by the Department for Business and Trade, using established official and ministerial channels, supported by the Cabinet Office.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the increase in UK GDP will be from the upgraded UK-Republic of Korea agreement.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The upgraded UK-Republic of Korea (RoK) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) guarantees permanent tariff-free access to 98% of RoK’s lines, ensuring £2 billion of UK goods exports at risk of additional duties can continue to benefit from reduced tariffs. New services provisions could also help increase UK services exports by £400 million annually in the long term.
Once the upgraded agreement is signed we will publish detailed analytical information, including trade impacts. As this is an upgraded FTA, we intend to use a New Quantitative Trade Model (NQTM) which will provide a more accurate overview of the upgraded FTA’s economic impact.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the policy papers entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 30 June 2025, and Budget 2025, published on 28 November 2025, what their Department’s capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be in each year of the Spending Review period; how much capital funding has been allocated to each of their Department’s programmes; and how much and what proportion of the capital DEL allocation remains unallocated in each year.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade’s capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (CDEL) settlement in each year of the Spending Review period is:
Individual programme allocations are subject to annual internal planning. The Department’s CDEL settlement across all years of the Spending Review includes:
There is currently no unallocated capital funding in the Department, and allocations remain subject to the regular review of the Department’s capital spending plans.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Prime Minister’s written ministerial statement of 3 June 2025 on Machinery of Government: Cyber-security and Defence Exports, HCWS679, if his Department will retain responsibility for policy on the export of dual-use items.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
There are currently no plans to change DBT’s responsibility for policy on the export of dual-use items.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether his Department's review of export licensing policy will include the UK’s (a) participation in, (b) its interpretation of and (c) approach to (i) international treaties and (ii) any other international law and agreements relevant to arms control.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.
This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.
This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.
It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.
It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.
DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether the review of export licensing policy will examine export controls relating to (a) sensitive technologies, (b) intangible transfers, (c) technological advancements and (d) the targeting end-uses and end-users of concern.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.
This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.
This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.
It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.
It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.
DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.