Asked by: Marco Longhi (Conservative - Dudley North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans her Department has to engage with stakeholders in the higher education and research sector on potential free trade agreements with Brazil.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
I refer my hon. Friend for Dudley North to the answer given to the hon. Member for Harrow West by my hon. Friend the Minister for Exports on 22nd March 2021 (UIN: 168823).
The Department for International Trade engages regularly with higher education and research stakeholders through the United Kingdom-Brazil Education Working Group for Higher Education and is in discussions with the Group’s members to facilitate greater collaboration on transnational education, including mutual recognition of degrees (under- and post-graduate degrees), industry-academia relationship, and language policies to internationalisation. We aim to promote a virtual trade mission later in the year to foster further partnerships between British and Brazilian universities.
Asked by: Marco Longhi (Conservative - Dudley North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to support small and medium sized enterprises in (a) Dudley North, (b) Dudley Borough and (c) the West Midlands to increase their exports.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department for International Trade (DIT) delivers a range of export services across the West Midlands, Dudley North and Dudley Borough. These include providing support in accessing international opportunities and trade missions; providing export credit and insurance through UK Export Finance (UKEF); access to DIT’s international network; and support provided by experienced International Trade Advisers (ITAs).
DIT recently announced further support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with the introduction a new Internationalisation Fund, providing grants of up to £9k to SMEs to enhance their export potential, and the founding of a new Export Academy, providing businesses with the knowledge, skills and tools to develop and implement an export plan. SMEs will also benefit from direct local support through dedicated Local Enterprise Partnership ITAs that focus on key local priorities.
Asked by: Marco Longhi (Conservative - Dudley North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the timeframe is for implementation of the trade agreement with Brazil announced in December 2020.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The United Kingdom does not currently have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Brazil, but it remains a priority to deepen our trading relationship. Brazil is in a Customs Union – Mercosur – so, at the United Kingdom-Brazil Joint Economic Trade Committee held on 11th November 2020, we discussed the potential of a future United Kingdom-Mercosur FTA. We continue our work with Brazil and other Mercosur partners to open markets and strengthen the rules based international trading system too.
Asked by: Marco Longhi (Conservative - Dudley North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress her Department has made on negotiations with Brazil on a free trade agreement.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The United Kingdom does not currently have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Brazil, and it remains a priority to deepen our trading relationship. Brazil participates in free trade agreements via regional bloc – Mercosur – so, at the United Kingdom-Brazil Joint Economic Trade Committee held on 11th November 2020, we discussed the potential of a future United Kingdom-Mercosur FTA. We continue our work with Brazil and other Mercosur partners to open markets and strengthen the rules based international trading system too.
Asked by: Marco Longhi (Conservative - Dudley North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will undertake a comprehensive review of UK trade policy once negotiations and continuity work with (a) the EU and (b) other international partners is complete.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has ambitious goals for UK trade policy to maximise the opportunities of leaving the EU and overcoming the unprecedented economic challenge posed by COVID-19. We aim to have agreements with countries accounting for 80% of UK trade within the next three years. Our work to secure a trade agreement with the EU, and to replicate the effects of existing EU trade agreements with international partners, contributes to this ambition. My department reviews progress against these priorities on a regular basis and will continue to do so as agreements are completed.