Trade: Coronavirus

(asked on 20th April 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions she has had with her counterparts in (a) France and (b) Germany on (i) keeping global trade routes open and (ii) avoiding unnecessary barriers to trade during the covid-19 outbreak; and if she will make a statement.


Answered by
Greg Hands Portrait
Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This question was answered on 27th April 2020

Coronavirus is the biggest threat this country has faced in decades. Free trade and resilient supply chains will be crucial to the global economic recovery as the crisis passes. The UK is continuing to provide economic leadership to protect the global economy from permanent damage through regular dialogue with international partners among the G7, G20 and the EU.

We have taken a key role in discussions with G20 counterparts, including the EU and its Member States, both leading up to and following the G20 Trade Ministers Statement on 30 March. This statement included a commitment to avoiding disruption to global supply chains and agreed that any trade restrictive measures put in place as a result of Covid-19 must be targeted, proportionate, transparent, and temporary. We will continue to drive forward this important work, engaging our key trading partners to raise ambition and maintain momentum.

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