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Written Question
Trade Agreements: New Zealand
Thursday 10th March 2022

Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions her Department has had with (a) the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and (b) the Ulster Farmers Union on the provisions of the UK trade deal with New Zealand.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

The Department for International Trade (DIT) engages closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure the agricultural sector is consulted extensively on our trade policy, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs working closely with the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. As members of DIT’s Trade Advisory Groups, senior representatives of the Ulster Farmers Union were regularly consulted throughout the negotiations with New Zealand and at key milestones: before agreement in principle was reached in August 2021; at the point of agreement in principle in October 2021; and at signature in February 2022.


Written Question
Antidumping Duties: Northern Ireland
Monday 26th October 2020

Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the termination of anti-dumping duty will apply to companies in Northern Ireland at the end of the UK's transition period with the EU.

Answered by Ranil Jayawardena

Northern Ireland is – and will remain – part of the United Kingdom’s customs territory and trade remedies measures will apply on a nationwide basis. At the end of the transition period, those existing EU trade remedy measures that my Department assessed as being without significant producer interest in the United Kingdom will be terminated.

This will reduce the costs for British users of these products, and lead to lower prices for British consumers across the country. This highlights one of the benefits of the United Kingdom being able to operate her own independent trade policy, tailored to the specific needs of our nation.


Written Question
Overseas Trade: Hong Kong
Monday 7th September 2020

Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans the Government has to remove any special trading status with Hong Kong in response to the imposition of the National Security Laws by the Chinese Government.

Answered by Ranil Jayawardena

The UK does not currently plan to alter its trading relationship with Hong Kong, which is an independent World Trade Organisation (WTO) member.