Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Maldives will be granted the same trade agreement as other Commonwealth Small Island States and no longer be charged 20 per cent tax on fish exports to the UK from their sustainable tuna line fishing; and if so, when.

The UK currently applies the UK Global Tariff of 20% to imports of tuna from the Maldives. This rate is also applied to imports from all other trading partners where preferential arrangements are not in place.

The Government continues to explore pragmatic opportunities to enhance bilateral trade relations with the Maldives in areas of mutual interest, including fishing.