Diplomatic Service: Overseas Trade

(asked on 25th February 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote trade links through the diplomatic network.


Answered by
Nigel Adams Portrait
Nigel Adams
This question was answered on 3rd March 2020

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) diplomatic network is at the forefront of championing free trade as part of the Global Britain agenda. Our Heads of Mission are leading their teams in growing trade relationships and opening markets to UK trade and investment across the world. FCO staff are using their knowledge and expertise of overseas markets to support the trade priorities of Departments across Whitehall, including Department for International Trade work to negotiate new agreements that can benefit the whole of the UK. The diplomatic network is also working with the other countries to drive economic reform which creates better business environments, including through the programmes of the Prosperity Fund. The FCO is enhancing the trade capability of its staff and many staff across Whitehall through specialist training delivered through the Diplomatic Academy's Trade Policy Faculty.

Reticulating Splines