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
Iron and Steel: Imports
Tuesday 18th May 2021

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the Answers of 29 April 2021 to Questions 188093 and 188094, when she expects the review to (a) conclude and (b) report.

Answered by Ranil Jayawardena

We anticipate that the Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) – which will become the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) on 1st June – will complete the steel safeguard review in time for a decision by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade before the measure expires on 30th June.

Before the TRA makes its final recommendation, it will publish a statement summarising the evidence and its initial conclusions. This will be open to comments.


Written Question
Iron and Steel: Imports
Thursday 29th April 2021

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on steps that the Government is taking to provide support for steel production that imports large amounts of Category 12 steep products: Non alloy and other alloy: Merchant bars and light sections.

Answered by Ranil Jayawardena

The Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) initiated a review of the steel safeguard measure on 1st October 2020. This review is ongoing.


Written Question
Iron and Steel: Imports
Thursday 29th April 2021

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the sufficiency of Category 12 steel products: Non alloy and other alloy: Merchant bars and light sections quotas for import for the development of steel in the UK.

Answered by Ranil Jayawardena

The Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) initiated a review of the steel safeguard measure on 1st October 2020. This review is ongoing.


Written Question
Film and Television: UK Trade with EU
Monday 19th October 2020

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure continued export of (a) satellite TV signals licensed in the UK to the countries of the EU and (b) the continued export of UK television programmes and films to the EU after the transition period.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

After the transition period, the UK will continue to be a signatory to the European Convention on Transfrontier Television (ECTT). This means that the 22 countries that are co-signatories must allow freedom of reception of services under UK jurisdiction.

However, UK-based audio-visual media service providers may need to comply with the rules of a Member State to have access to the EU market in which they would want to provide their services. Similarly, EU providers wishing to supply services in the United Kingdom may need to abide by UK rules.

Broadcasters and on-demand programme services providers have been encouraged to seek legal advice and contact EU media regulators to check whether their current licence will continue to be accepted in the EU countries where the service is available, or if a separate licence or authorisation will be required.

Europe remains the second biggest territory for UK TV exports worth an estimated £470m in 2018/19. The UK's European Works (EW) status is valued by our Audio-Visual sector and our European partners who value access to the UK's world class content on their screens.

As a signatory to the ECTT framework, UK content will continue to hold the status of EW with guaranteed access to the EW quota within the EU. The government is implementing the recent updates to the Audio-Visual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) in our domestic regime, which will extend quotas for EW to on-demand content, underlining the government's ongoing commitment to the EW framework for film and television.


Written Question
UK Trade with EU
Thursday 10th September 2020

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many UK firms (a) exported to, (b) imported from and (c) exported to and imported from the EU in the 2019-20 financial year.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In 2019, 39,000 businesses only exported goods to the EU, 95,000 businesses only imported goods from the EU and 89,000 businesses exported and imported goods from the EU.

Source: HMRC 2019 UK Importer and Exporter Population
Data is available by calendar year only.
Data on businesses exporting services to the EU is not available.


Written Question
Free Zones
Wednesday 9th September 2020

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of the UK Global Tariff on the economic merits of freeports through tariff inversion.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In designing the UK Global Tariff (UKGT), we have assessed all available evidence submitted as part of the public consultation, and in addition, conducted our own assessment to ensure that the policy is robust and supportive of the UK economy as a whole. We will publish more analysis in the Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) alongside the legislation, as is standard practice.


Written Question
UK Trade with EU: Smuggling
Tuesday 14th July 2020

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the level risk of an increase in goods smuggled into the UK from the EU as a result to the Government's phased introduction of border controls; and what assessment she has made of the effect of smuggled goods on trade negotiations with non-EU countries.

Answered by Ranil Jayawardena

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) already tackle smuggling and they will continue to do so through intelligence-led targeting. My Department continues working closely with HMRC to make sure that the United Kingdom’s trade policy will be effectively operationalised at the border after the transition period ends.

Border controls on controlled goods will continue regardless of whether imports come from the European Union or Rest of the World countries. To ensure compliance with new customs procedures and controls at the border after transition period ends, my Rt Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster recently announced a new infrastructure funding package that includes £470m to build the necessary infrastructure required.


Written Question
UK Trade with EU: Customs
Tuesday 14th July 2020

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Government’s preparations to carry out full checks on controlled goods entering the UK at EU-facing ports from July 2021 where infrastructure to implement those controls does not currently exist.

Answered by Ranil Jayawardena

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) already tackle smuggling and they will continue to do so through intelligence-led targeting. My Department continues working closely with HMRC to make sure that the United Kingdom’s trade policy will be effectively operationalised at the border after the transition period ends.

Border controls on controlled goods will continue regardless of whether imports come from the European Union or Rest of the World countries. To ensure compliance with new customs procedures and controls at the border after transition period ends, my Rt Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster recently announced a new infrastructure funding package that includes £470m to build the necessary infrastructure required.


Written Question
Customs
Tuesday 14th July 2020

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on the Government’s (a) operation delivery plans, (b) timeframes and (c) risks in relation to the delivery of tariff declaration systems on non-EU imports from 1 January 2021.

Answered by Ranil Jayawardena

I cannot disclose the specifics of discussions between my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and my Rt Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster.

However, I can assure the Hon. Gentleman that the Department for International Trade is working closely with officials in both the Border and Protocol Delivery Group and HM Revenue and Customs to implement all border delivery plans and timelines, including in relation to the delivery of tariff declaration systems, in the lead up to the end of the transition period.


Written Question
Borders: Northern Ireland
Tuesday 14th July 2020

Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to mitigate the risk of a legal challenge at the WTO as a result of the (a) UK’s new border regime and (b) implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government complies with its international obligations. The Department for International Trade continues to work with relevant government departments on the UK’s WTO compliance, as a result of the UK’s new border regime and the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Government will discharge its responsibilities in a way that is effective; which upholds our international obligations; and which respects the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland.