UKPOL.CO.UK

Category: Trade

  • Anne-Marie Trevelyan – 2021 Comments on New Relationship with Italy

    Anne-Marie Trevelyan – 2021 Comments on New Relationship with Italy

    The comments made by Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Secretary of State for International Trade, on 13 October 2021.

    Enhancing our bilateral relationship with Italy is a win-win, which will boost export opportunities and investment promotion for our businesses.

    Italy is our ninth-largest trading partner, while the UK is Italy’s fifth-largest export market – I am delighted we are kicking off this discussion.

    The UK and Italy are also working side-by-side to deliver a successful COP26 Summit. The next 18 months are critical for our planet and together we will lead by example to accelerate progress towards a green, resilient and inclusive recovery.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2021 Comments on US/Mexico/Canada Agreement U-Turn

    Emily Thornberry – 2021 Comments on US/Mexico/Canada Agreement U-Turn

    The comments made by Emily Thornberry, the Shadow International Trade Secretary, on 22 September 2021.

    Within the space of 24 hours, Boris Johnson has taken us from first in line to the back of the queue for a US trade deal, briefed reporters in Washington that we were seeking to join the USMCA instead, and now decided to ditch that idea as well, presumably after someone bothered to read the agreement and realised what it would mean for food standards and the NHS.

    It is an utterly farcical way for the Prime Minister to carry on when representing our country abroad, and a shambolic approach to running the UK’s trade policy.

    It all leaves the Government not a single step closer to its manifesto commitment to cover 80 per cent of UK trade with free trade deals by the end of next year, and not the slightest clue how it is going to get there.

  • Lord Frost – 2021 Statement on Controls on Incoming Goods from EU

    Lord Frost – 2021 Statement on Controls on Incoming Goods from EU

    The statement made by Lord Frost in the House of Lords on 14 September 2021.

    On 31 December 2020, the UK left the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union. The Government put in place the staffing, infrastructure, and IT to ensure a smooth transition. Thanks to the hard work of traders and hauliers, we did not see disruption at our ports; and, despite dips in trade value with the EU in the early months, the monthly value of exports to the EU has recovered strongly.

    Now the UK is an independent trading country, our intention is to introduce the same controls on incoming goods from the EU as on goods from the rest of the world.

    The Government initially announced a timetable for the introduction of the final stages of those controls on 11 March. The Government’s own preparations, in terms of systems, infrastructure and resourcing, remain on track to meet that timetable.

    However, the pandemic has had longer-lasting impacts on businesses, both in the UK and in the European Union, than many observers expected in March. There are also pressures on global supply chains, caused by a wide range of factors including the pandemic and the increased costs of global freight transport. These pressures are being especially felt in the agri-food sector.

    In these circumstances, the Government have decided to delay further some elements of the new controls, especially those relating to sanitary and phytosanitary goods. Accordingly:

    The requirement for pre-notification of agri-food imports will be introduced on 1 January 2022 as opposed to 1 October 2021.

    The new requirements for export health certificates, which were due to be introduced on 1 October 2021, will now be introduced on 1 July 2022.

    Phytosanitary certificates and physical checks on SPS goods at Border Control Posts, due to be introduced on 1 January 2022, will now be introduced on 1 July 2022.

    The requirement for safety and security declarations on imports will be introduced as of 1 July 2022 as opposed to 1 January 2022.

    The timetable for the removal of the current easements in relation to full customs controls and the introduction of customs checks remains unchanged from the planned 1 January 2022.

    The Government will work closely with the Devolved Administrations on the implementation of this new timetable, given their devolved responsibilities for agri-food controls.

    Full guidance to stakeholders will be provided on www.gov.uk shortly.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2021 Comments on International Trade

    Emily Thornberry – 2021 Comments on International Trade

    The comments made by Emily Thornberry, the Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade, on 14 September 2021.

    Liz Truss may have tried to bury this survey in the dead of night, but she must not hide from the legitimate concerns being raised by the British people.

    First, there is still strong public support for trade deals, but the survey shows she risks putting that in jeopardy if she continues ignoring rising fears about the impact of her proposed deals on our farming communities, food standards and public services.

    And second, she needs to consider whether it is right for her to rush ahead with her plans to take our country into the Trans-Pacific Partnership when – according to her own survey – almost three-quarters of the British people still know nothing about it.

  • Liz Truss – 2021 Comments on Trade Envoys

    Liz Truss – 2021 Comments on Trade Envoys

    The comments made by Liz Truss, the Secretary of State for International Trade, on 25 August 2021.

    Our Trade Envoys play a key role in delivering our ambitious global trade agenda, and I am delighted the Prime Minister has appointed 10 Trade Envoys, who will boost opportunities for businesses in some of the world’s fastest growing markets.

    As we seek to boost exports, promote investment, and break down barriers to trade, our Trade Envoys will support us to share in the benefits that a closer trading relationship can offer to our businesses and our communities.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2021 Comments on Falling UK Exports

    Emily Thornberry – 2021 Comments on Falling UK Exports

    The comments made by Emily Thornberry, the Shadow International Trade Secretary, on 16 July 2021.

    In last year’s annual report, Liz Truss boasted about her achievements in this area, saying ‘I am proud of the £24.4 billion in Export Wins my department recorded in 2019-20.’

    In this year’s report, slipped out without a press release last night, she has nothing to say about the catastrophic collapse she has presided over in government-backed export deals.

    At a time when we urgently need to buy, make and sell more British goods to drive our recovery from the pandemic, Liz Truss has shown she is just not up to the task.

  • Ranil Jayawardena – 2021 Statement on Free Trade Agreement with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway

    Ranil Jayawardena – 2021 Statement on Free Trade Agreement with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway

    The statement made by Ranil Jayawardena, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Trade, in the House of Commons on 8 July 2021.

    Today, Norway’s Trade Minister Iselin Nybø, Iceland’s Foreign Minister Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Liechtenstein’s Foreign Minister Dominique Hasler, and I are signing the United Kingdom-Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in London. This is another trade deal that the United Kingdom has struck as an independent trading nation, in which our partners have gone further and faster than they have with anyone else in a number of areas, demonstrating what is possible between trusted trading partners.

    It is the first time these three European countries have included dedicated chapters on small businesses and digital trade in any trade deal, including some of the most liberalising and modern digital trade provisions in the world, which simplify customs procedures, cutting red tape and making it easier than ever for our businesses to export across borders. Electronic documents, contracts and signatures will result in less paperwork, saving British firms time and money. Their offer to the United Kingdom on services and investment goes beyond what they have offered other FTA partners to date. Innovative FinTech firms will be able to provide financial services into Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, without having to provide that service elsewhere first, helping the United Kingdom to maintain its status as a financial services hub.

    The agreement contains robust commitments on trade and sustainable development, demonstrating our shared global leadership on pressing issues such as climate change and protects our “right to regulate”, supporting us in meeting our ambitious domestic climate targets, including net zero for the United Kingdom.

    Building on our current goods agreement, this agreement will cut more Norwegian tariffs on high-quality British food and farm products and could help support British fish processing industries from Grimsby to Grampian with further reductions on our tariffs on certain white fish, shrimps and prawns. The agreement could help support businesses in every corner of our country, helping to grow a trading relationship already worth £21.6 billion in 2020.*1

    This deal will deliver more opportunities for key British sectors especially those providing financial, legal, and other professional services. It will allow businesses in all sectors to send their staff on business visits or to provide services contracts to these countries, as well as the ability to transfer them for longer term projects. It means those with professional qualifications will have clear routes for the recognition of their qualifications for regulated professions. In addition, the agreement opens up new opportunities for British businesses to bid for a wider range of Government contracts in these countries.

    HM Government is committed to transparency and the effective scrutiny of our trade negotiations. Following today’s signature of the FTA, I can announce that the Department for International Trade and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will be formally presenting the signed treaty text and related documents to Parliament before the summer recess for scrutiny under the Constitutional Reform and Governance (CRaG) Act procedure. Laying ahead of summer recess ensures that the House has the maximum amount of time to scrutinise the detail of our trade deal.

    Alongside the treaty text, we will lay an explanatory memorandum. An impact assessment of our trade deal, and a parliamentary report providing an overview of the deal, will also be placed in the Libraries of both Houses at the same time. All of the documents will be published on gov.uk in parallel.

    *1 ONS, UK total trade: all countries, non-seasonally adjusted: October to December 2020

  • Graham Stuart – 2021 Comments on UK Export Finance

    Graham Stuart – 2021 Comments on UK Export Finance

    The comments made by Graham Stuart, the Minister for Exports, on 23 June 2021.

    UKEF stepped up when its help was needed most. Coronavirus put the UK in its most economically challenging position in decades. UKEF has been central to the government’s response and provided £12.3 billion in support of UK exports – the most in 30 years. This backing helped our nation of exporters keep selling to the world through this pandemic.

    We are opening up the world’s fastest growing markets through the trade deals we are negotiating so that the UK can recover as quickly as possible from the pandemic. Thanks to the talent and dedication of UKEF staff, companies can now make the most of our ambitious trade policies. With a dedicated clean growth lending facility and the new Clean Energy team I’m announcing today, UKEF will help the economy grow back stronger, fairer and greener.

  • Boris Johnson – 2021 Comments on the CPTPP Partnership

    Boris Johnson – 2021 Comments on the CPTPP Partnership

    The comments made by Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, on 22 June 2021.

    Membership of the CPTTP [sic] free-trade partnership would open up unparalleled opportunities for British businesses and consumers in the fast-growing Indo-Pacific.

    It’s an exciting opportunity to build on this country’s entrepreneurial spirit and free trading history to bring economic benefits across the whole of the UK.

  • Liz Truss – 2021 Comments on Foreign Investment

    Liz Truss – 2021 Comments on Foreign Investment

    The comments made by Liz Truss, the International Trade Secretary, on 21 June 2021.

    From Scotland to the South West, the UK remains one of the most attractive destinations in the world to invest in. Today’s foreign direct investment figures prove we’re resilient and strong in the face of economic uncertainty, and we know that more trade equals more jobs.

    As we strike trade deals across the globe, we’re opening up even more opportunities for investors, exporters and businesses to grow, creating jobs, boosting the economy and levelling up the entire UK as we can build back better from the pandemic.