To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Trade Agreements: India
Tuesday 8th March 2022

Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the opening of trade negotiations with India, (1) what is their timetable, and (2) what are the key milestones, for a free trade agreement between the UK and India.

Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

HM Government began negotiations of the United Kingdom-India free trade agreement on 17th January. The Written Ministerial Statement that I laid in the House on 31st January (UIN: HLWS557) provides more detail on the progress and outcomes of the first round of talks. We opened a second round of negotiations on 7th March, and will continue our work until such time that we have negotiated a deal that is in the British national interest.


Written Question
Iron and Steel: USA
Tuesday 30th November 2021

Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in negotiations with the US about lifting the US tariffs on UK-produced steel; and when they expect those tariffs to be lifted.

Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

Following the announcement of a US-EU deal on the application of Section 232 tariffs, the US issued a statement reflecting our ongoing discussions on this issue and committing to resume talks with the UK. In preparation, we continue to work closely with the steel and aluminium industries to understand the implications of the US-EU deal. Any deal that the UK secures with the US must work for the steel and aluminium sectors. We also continue to engage with UK importers, and will publish a response to the public consultation on our rebalancing measures in due course.


Written Question
Iron and Steel: USA
Tuesday 30th November 2021

Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the competitiveness of UK-produced steel in the US market compared to that of steel produced in the EU in the 12 month period (1) before, and (2) after, the US lifted tariffs on steel imports from the EU.

Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

The US-EU deal on the application of Section 232 tariffs comes into effect from 1 January. The Government continues to work closely with the steel and aluminium industries to understand the potential implications of the US-EU deal.


Written Question
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
Wednesday 23rd September 2020

Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government which member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership are currently supportive of the UK becoming a member; and what lobbying activity they are undertaking with those members who are not yet supportive.

Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

Pursuing potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a priority for the HM Government and is a key part of our trade negotiations programme. We have engaged with all eleven member countries, at both ministerial and official level. Most recently, on 9th September 2020, my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade addressed a United Kingdom-CPTPP Senior Officials’ meeting and all CPTPP members have welcomed our interest in accession. Prior to that, on 10th July 2020, the Secretary of State convened Heads of Mission from all CPTPP countries to discuss the United Kingdom’s potential accession. We will continue to engage all members as we consider our application, an approach that aligns with the accession process for new CPTPP members, which encourages countries to engage informally with every CPTPP member.


Written Question
Trade Agreements
Wednesday 23rd September 2020

Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with the governments of (1) Canada, (2) Australia, and (3) New Zealand, about establishing a trading bloc with those nations.

Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

The Department for International Trade (DIT) has not had discussions about establishing a trading bloc with Canada, Australia or New Zealand. However, we are committed to negotiating and securing ambitious free trade deals with Australia and New Zealand as soon as possible, harnessing the opportunity to negotiate a high-quality agreement with like-minded, liberal trading nations.

Similarly, both Britain and Canada agree on the importance of protecting and strengthening our trading relationship now that we have left the EU and we are engaging constructively with HM Government of Canada on a seamless transition of our trading relationship beyond 2020, so that British and Canadian businesses can continue to benefit from liberalised trade.

In addition, the United Kingdom is also considering accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), of which Canada, Australia and New Zealand are three members.


Written Question
Confederation of British Industry: Strategic Trade Advisory Group
Tuesday 22nd September 2020

Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to appoint a representative of the Confederation of British Industry to the Strategic Trade Advisory Group.

Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

The Strategic Trade Advisory Group (STAG) has recently been through a review and my Department will shortly announce its new membership.


Written Question
Trade Agreements: Japan
Tuesday 14th January 2020

Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they anticipate making a trade agreement with Japan.

Answered by Earl of Courtown - Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

Our exit from the EU provides an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen our relationship with Japan, which is among the UK government’s priority countries for negotiating a bilateral trade deal. Both parties have agreed that they will work quickly to build a new economic partnership and we have already laid the groundwork for a future negotiation through our call for input which ran between 20 September and 4 November 2019.


Written Question
Overseas Trade: Reviews
Wednesday 6th February 2019

Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many joint trade reviews they have undertaken with other countries in the last 12 months; and with which countries such reviews were undertaken.

Answered by Baroness Fairhead

We are conducting a Joint Trade and Investment Review with China, which is an important part of significantly deepening our trade and investment partnership. We have made good progress and aim to agree recommendations in 2019. The UK-India Joint Trade Review was concluded in January 2018 and the UK-Brazil Joint Trade Review was concluded in March 2018. The UK is committed to working collaboratively with both India and Brazil to deepen the bilateral trade relationship, both before and after the UK leaves the EU. We have made good progress - for example through removing barriers affecting UK businesses.


Written Question
Trade Agreements
Tuesday 5th February 2019

Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the current EU free trade agreements they have agreed to replicate with the countries concerned so that the UK will be able to continue to trade with those countries on existing terms after the UK leaves the EU.

Answered by Baroness Fairhead

Discussions with all partner countries have demonstrated a commitment to finding a pragmatic way to ensure continuity of our existing international agreements. Alongside the Withdrawal Agreement, the EU agreed to notify its treaty partners that the UK is treated as a Member State for the purposes of EU international agreements during the Implementation Period (IP). This includes trade agreements.

The Government continues to prepare for all eventualities, including a ‘no deal’ Brexit scenario, in the event of which we will seek to bring into force bilateral agreements from exit day (29 March 2019) or as soon as possible thereafter. We are making good progress and have signed agreements with Chile, the Faroe Islands, and Eastern and Southern African Economic Partnership Agreement states, with others soon to follow, such as Switzerland, which the Government expects to sign shortly. We have also signed Mutual Recognition Agreements with Australia and New Zealand. When we reach agreement with other countries will depend on the progress of ongoing discussions, taking into account: their assessment of the possibility of a no deal; their own political or parliamentary situation; resource constraints; and other factors. The Government will continue to inform Parliament and the public when agreements are signed.


Written Question
Trade Agreements
Tuesday 5th February 2019

Asked by: Lord Allen of Kensington (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have agreed free trade agreements for when the UK leaves the EU with (1) Norway, (2) Switzerland, (3) South Korea, and (4) Turkey; and if not, when they expect to do so.

Answered by Baroness Fairhead

The UK and Swiss governments have agreed the text of a trade agreement which the Government expects to sign shortly.

Alongside the Withdrawal Agreement, the EU agreed to notify its treaty partners that the UK is treated as a Member State for the purposes of EU international agreements during the Implementation Period (IP). This includes trade agreements.

The Government will be updating businesses and Parliament on the progress of this programme of work shortly.