Tag: Business and Trade Department

On Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, representatives of the UK and state of North Carolina governments attended the third government-to-government working group meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte continues to register as one of the fastest growing cities in the US and is the country’s second largest banking centre after New York City. This meeting follows the first two convenings in Raleigh, NC (January 2023) and Manchester, UK (June 2023).

Rachel Galloway, Consul General at the British Consulate in Atlanta, co-chaired the meeting with Machelle Baker Sanders, Secretary of Commerce for the state of North Carolina, attended by officials from the respective governments.

Attendees discussed the progress made since the last meeting in June 2023 pointing to the measurable achievements in key focus areas, including:

• Boosting trade and investment: Cambridge-based Marshall Aerospace is opening a new aircraft maintenance facility and engineering hub at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina. The $50 million investment will result in 240 jobs for the local community and is expected to open in 2025. At the ground-breaking ceremony in North Carolina in September 2023, the new home of Marshall USA, Marshall Aerospace credited the official North Carolina-UK relationship, including the MoU, for helping to create the enabling environment for their investment.
• Improving access to procurement opportunities: In November, the UK and North Carolina co-chaired a government procurement and commercial opportunities roundtable. North Carolina officials shared insights into how UK companies can best engage in the North Carolina procurement process, including through registering on the state’s procurement information and e-vendor portals, soliciting public records to better understand successful bids, forming partnerships with North Carolina companies with prior success in state procurement, researching legal and IT security requirements in advance of bidding, and seeking opportunities at the local level.

Attendees also considered and identified fresh opportunities to further knowledge exchange and activities to develop all areas of the MoU over the coming six months, including:

• UK companies and officials will participate in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Clean Tech Summit in March 2024.
• The UK will send an outbound Motorsport mission to North Carolina in May 2024. This follows on the success of a previous mission in 2023.
• The UK and North Carolina will hold the next working group meeting to coincide with a delegation of North Carolina officials’ visit to the Farnborough Air Show in July 2024.

The meeting was followed by a business lunch attended by UK and North Carolina business and civic leaders where attendees were invited to get involved on future MoU delivery activity.

Finally, British American Business Council Carolinas hosted a panel discussion on Macro Political and Economic Trends in Trade and Investment as part of their annual general meeting. The panel, comprising of Rachel Galloway, UK Consul General for the Southeastern US; Chris Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina; and Sally Webb, Non-Executive Director of The Special Event Company, was moderated by Chris William, Executive Producer of the Carolina Business Review. The panel was attended by a cross-section of representatives from the Charlotte business community.

The British American Business Council Carolinas will host the British American Business Network annual transatlantic conference in Charlotte for the first time later this year, acknowledging the increasingly close relationship being developed between the UK and North Carolina as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding between both parties.

• New legislation to introduce digital labelling for British businesses to cut red tape and save millions in unnecessary regulation costs
• Recognition of CE marking continued for products such as toys and machinery, easing burdens to businesses
• Digital labelling reforms made possible by Brexit and ensures the UK’s regulatory requirements are fit for the modern world

Businesses are set to benefit from reduced costs and burdens as import labels are made digital for the first time.

Digital labelling will allow businesses to put important regulatory or manufacturing information online rather than requiring them to physically print it on their products – saving time and money which can be pushed towards scaling up and growing their company.

This measure has been made possible by leaving the EU and provides greater flexibility than the EU’s regulatory requirements while better reflecting the modern and digital world of business and international trade.

This follows the Product Safety Review consultation and extensive industry engagement – looking at ways to cut costs while benefitting consumers and ensuring our regulatory system is agile and a move towards digital labelling has been something the industry have consistently called for.

Business and Trade Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:

“I know first-hand the difficulties businesses face with regulations and red tape, and what we’re announcing today will not only ease business burdens and costs but will enable them to spend their time growing their companies and creating jobs.

“We’ve worked closely with multiple sectors to create policy that works for them and this is another step in the right direction to back British businesses.”

The CE or UKCA marking is used on products to demonstrate the manufacturer is compliant with legal requirements. Last summer, DBT announced the intention to indefinitely recognise current EU requirements, including the CE marking, for the 18 product regulations under the department’s remit.

Following feedback from industry, we are introducing legislation to continue the recognition of CE marking indefinitely for a range of additional regulations which will benefit products including vacuum cleaners and televisions. Full list of covered regulations are below. The UK government is taking a tailored approach to product regulation to ensure the interests of UK businesses, consumers and the economy are taken into account.

This comes as part of wider range of measures as part of our smarter regulation programme, which ensures our laws and regulatory regime are better tailored in the interests of UK businesses, consumers and the economy.

This announcement does not apply to regulations for medical devices, construction products, marine equipment, rail products, cableways, transportable pressure equipment and unmanned aircraft systems, led by relevant government departments.

The indefinite recognition of current EU requirements, including the CE marking, for these 21 regulations means businesses have the flexibility to use either the UKCA or CE marking (Or reverse epsilon marking where applicable) to sell products in Great Britain.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive:

“Recognising CE marking indefinitely is very welcome and a common sense decision that will benefit the motorist and the competitiveness of the UK automotive industry. It means that thousands of aftermarket and supply chain businesses can continue to source vital automotive parts without unnecessary additional cost and complexity, keeping costs low for consumers and ensuring vehicles are built and maintained to the highest possible standards.”

A GAMBICA spokesperson said:

“UK suppliers of instrumentation, control, automation and laboratory equipment, within the membership of GAMBICA, appreciate the government’s engagement and practical steps to facilitate movement of goods across the GB border to ensure the long-term supply of critical components from a complex global supply chain.”

Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK, Stephen Phipson, said:

“The addition of three further regulated sectors that will benefit from the indefinite recognition of current EU requirements including the use of CE marking, is a welcome move that manufactures who develop and sell products in these areas will very much welcome and support.

“The added introduction of a ‘fast track’ process for products that are covered by multiple regulations, new permanent arrangements for labelling flexibility and an option for digital labelling, will all work together to help safeguard the competitiveness of manufacturers and aid the UK as a destination for investment. Make UK has called for the indefinite extension of a CE marking recognition for all UK manufactured goods to be a permanent change, and this should cover all goods and products sectors produced using a manufacturing process.”

TechUK Director of Markets Matthew Evans said:

“We strongly support the government’s decision to allow the voluntary use of e-labelling, in line with our key recommendations during the UK’s product compliance framework review. This represents a modern and progressive approach by DBT and will undoubtedly cut compliance costs, foster innovation, and lessen environmental impact. It will also align the UK with major trading partners like the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea, improving our trading relationships.”

A new ‘Fast-Track UKCA’ process will also be introduced, allowing manufacturers to use the UKCA marking to demonstrate compliance with either UKCA or recognised EU conformity processes. Where products are covered by multiple regulations, a mixture of both UKCA and CE conformity assessment procedures can be used.

This is designed to provide longer-term certainty and flexibility for businesses should the UK mandate UKCA for certain regulations in the future.

Notes to Editors:

Regulations in scope of this announcement

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) regulations in scope of this announcement are:

·        Equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres Regulations 2016/1107

·        Electromagnetic compatibility Regulations 2016/1091

·        Lifts Regulations 2016/1093

·        Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016/1101

·        Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016/1105

·        Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015/1553

·        Recreational Craft Regulations 2017/737

·        Radio Equipment Regulations 2017/1206

·        Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 2016/1092

·        Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011/1881

·        Aerosol Dispensers Regulations 2009/ 2824

·        Gas Appliances (EU Regulation) 2016/426

·        Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008/1597

·        Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations 2001/1701

·        Personal Protective Equipment (EU Regulation) 2016/425

·        Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016/1153

·        Non-automatic weighing instruments Regulations 2016/1152

·        Measuring Container Bottles (EEC Requirements) Regulations 1977

For the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA):

·        The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 (‘The RoHS Regulations’)

For the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ):

·        The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010

For the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) [The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)]:

·        The Explosives Regulations 2014

Regulations not in scope of this announcement:

The UK government is taking a tailored approach to product regulation to ensure the interests of UK businesses, consumers and the economy are taken into account. There are certain sectors which require a bespoke approach to conformity assessment, and therefore extending recognition of the CE marking for products under the following regulations is not being included in this legislation. This includes:

For The Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC):

·        Construction Product Regulations 2013

For The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) [- Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)]

·        The Medical Devices Regulations 2002

For the Department for Transport (DFT)

·        The Railways (interoperability) Regulations 2011

·        Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment Regulations) 2016

·        The Cableway Installations Regulations 2018 (SI 2018/816) and The Cableway Installations (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/1347).

·        The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009

·        Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Regulation 2019/945

• Imports of critical goods for the NHS and UK manufacturing to be protected from global supply chain shocks, safeguarding business and consumers and boosting the economy.
• New Critical Imports and Supply Chains Strategy forms key part of government work to back business and grow the economy, helping UK companies build strong and resilient supply chains for vital goods and avoid dependence on protectionist or coercive states.
• Cutting-edge research will be used to map the impacts of shocks on supply chains, such as those caused by the Covid pandemic and war in Ukraine and understand how the UK can secure the goods we need in future.

UK supplies of critical goods such as medicines, minerals and semiconductors will be safeguarded, thanks to the Government’s new Critical Imports and Supply Chains Strategy launched today (Wednesday 17 January).

The recent attacks in the Red Sea, one of the world’s most critical waterways, has threatened global trade. In response to increased geopolitical disruption, and the unprecedented challenges of recent years, like the Covid pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and environmental disasters, the UK Government and businesses have boosted their ability to manage supply chain shocks. This strategy builds on this and will further equip UK businesses to deal with global supply chain problems and access the imports they need which are essential to the functioning of the UK.

Imported goods are vital to our economy. They ensure lower prices, greater choice, and help businesses to be more productive. They enable innovation, drive growth, and are essential to the UK’s world-leading industries, from aerospace to life sciences.

More than 100 top UK firms, including pharmaceutical and manufacturing leaders like The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and Green Lithium have contributed to the strategy to ensure it helps develop resilient and secure supply chains that protect both their business and the consumers who rely on them.

Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani will launch the Strategy today during a visit to Heathrow Airport, the largest import hub in the UK which handled more than £86 billion of UK imports in 2022.

Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani said:

There are many unpredictable events that can threaten our access to vital goods, from the pandemic, Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, and the ongoing attacks in the Red Sea. That’s why we’re taking action to ensure crucial imports like medicines can reach consumers, no matter what happens around the world.

With this strategy we’re equipping business so they no longer have to rely on unpredictable partners for supplies of the goods that keep our country going. By making supply chains stronger we’re helping make the UK a truly safe and reliable place to do business.

Ross Baker, Chief Commercial Officer, Heathrow said:

Heathrow connects the UK to 95% of the world’s economy and facilitates imports of the high value, time-critical goods that British industries like pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and technology rely on. We welcome Government initiatives that make doing business in the UK easier and more efficient, from shoring up supply chains to streamlining cargo processes at the airport, so Heathrow can meet growing demand to import and export across the globe.

The Critical Imports and Supply Chains Strategy will enable government to share vital information and guidance with businesses on the risks to key supply chains and the practical steps they can take to protect themselves from disruption, including regular updates on emerging supply chain risks, such as new export bans on critical everyday goods imposed by other countries.

As part of the strategy, we will set up a new online portal to allow businesses to quickly report red tape or disruption affecting their critical imports. The government will then work to remove these barriers wherever possible, saving business time and money.

We will also pursue further trade deals to help UK importers access the critical goods they need efficiently and affordably. This provides certainty for traders, allowing businesses to make informed decisions and reduce delays at the border, helping drive growth and streamlining costs.

The strategy sets out how we will use cutting edge research to understand the impacts of shocks on supply chains and how we can secure the critical goods we need in future. This will include researching how climate change will impact on our key supply chains, and how to mitigate the impact of environmental disasters.

We will also set up a new Critical Imports Council that will allow businesses and government to work together to identify risks to critical imports and develop a plan of action – ensuring that business have a central voice in shaping government’s work to build supply chain resilience.

Richard Torbett, ABPI Chief Executive said:

The government’s approach to the critical imports for pharmaceuticals will support our industry to maintain resilient supply chains, helping to ensure consistent access to medicines for UK patients. The medicines and vaccines developed by our industry are vital to public health and the economy. Recent global events like the pandemic have shown that our industry can manage and address global supply chain shocks, especially when working collaboratively with government, and this strategy supports our industry in doing so going forward.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive said:

With our success powered by complex global supply chains, the automotive industry has been pleased to help shape a new strategy that will support manufacturing agility and responsiveness. As we accelerate production of the cleanest and greenest vehicles, and the batteries they need, such a strategy is essential and we look forward to continuing this vital engagement to boost Britain’s resilience and competitiveness – essential to the continued success of the UK as a top tier investment destination for the automotive sector.

Sean Sargent, Green Lithium Chief Executive said:

Green Lithium is pleased to support the new Critical Imports & Supply Chains Strategy. This strategy will help ensure that Green Lithium can acquire the critical minerals it requires to supply the UK’s first low-carbon lithium refinery, further advancing a UK battery supply chain and electric vehicle production. This endeavour will support the UK economy by creating sustainable employment opportunities and supply chains that are fundamental to the energy transition. In combination with the UK Critical Minerals Strategy and the US-UK Atlantic Declaration, we anticipate that this strategy will attract investment in the UK’s critical mining and refining industries and enhance relationships with key mining countries, including Australia, Canada and Brazil. We are grateful to all those involved in establishing this vital strategy.

The Government will also attract international investment to projects like lithium mining in Cornwall to make us more self-sufficient in critical goods used in industries like electric vehicles production and clean energy.

Through the strategy, we will also identify the support UK business needs to connect with new suppliers in international markets, including through our overseas network in more than 100 countries. At the same time, we will use our expertise to support developing countries build supply chains with new international markets, including the UK.

The strategy also sets out how the UK government will work with our friends and international partners to solve supply chain challenges, through steps like the Atlantic Declaration. This partnership with the US includes negotiation of a new critical minerals agreement that will bolster our vital supply chains and ensure the UK’s access to materials we need for future technologies.

• UK and Ukraine launch new tech initiative to further support Ukraine’s recovery following Putin’s illegal invasion
• The UK-Ukraine TechBridge encourages collaboration between UK and Ukrainian tech sectors to boost investment and trade, innovation and skills, to the benefit of both countries
• Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani delivers speech in London to companies and investors as part of the official launch, along with Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation and private sector partners

The UK and Ukraine have today launched a new initiative to facilitate commercially-driven partnerships and growth in both tech sectors and further support Ukraine’s recovery.

The UK-Ukraine TechBridge aims to support economic resilience for Ukraine while bringing benefits to the tech sectors in both countries.

The initiative will seek to facilitate digital trade and investment by supporting relationships between high potential Ukrainian businesses and UK tech firms and investors, and through a series of virtual “missions” in priority sectors such as healthtech, agritech and fintech.

A number of UK-based tech companies have worked together to present a set of free online training opportunities alongside in-person and online expert discussions for Ukrainian businesses looking to develop their skills.

Following an agreement signed last year, Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani will officially launch the UK-Ukraine TechBridge with Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation Oleksandr Bornyakov, in London today.

Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani said:

As Minister for Ukraine Reconstruction, I am delighted to be launching this fantastic programme, building connections between the UK and Ukraine tech companies.

Ukraine’s tech sector has provided crucial support throughout the war and is key to the country’s resilience and future recovery.

By building partnerships between British and Ukrainian businesses and promoting innovation, we are demonstrating the power of trade, and are helping lay the foundations for Ukraine’s long-term recovery opening up future opportunities for businesses on both sides.

The programme will ensure that both British and Ukrainian tech businesses sectors have access to each other’s markets for commercial opportunities, making the most of the UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement.

The TechBridge website is accessible as of today, and in-person missions for Ukrainian companies will start as early as March. Organisations or individuals are invited to sign up to receive more information as we continue to build the offer and set up specific events.

Ukraine Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation Oleksandr Bornyakov said:

The UK-Ukraine TechBridge is a platform that brings together the potential and the expertise of both Ukrainian and UK’s tech sectors.

Its launch provides crucial support for Ukraine’s IT industry.

I am confident that, through the UK-Ukraine TechBridge, numerous large-scale joint projects will be implemented, setting an example of successful, mutually beneficial international partnership for other countries.

The UK remains a key partner for Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts and this programme adds to the UK’s commitment to ensure UK companies are well-placed to maximise their contribution to one of the largest infrastructure programmes globally.

Background

• More information about the TechBridge can be found on the dedicated website: ukukrainetechbridge.org.
• The intention to establish TechBridge was announced by the UK Prime Minister at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London in June 2023. We have developed strong relationships with Ukrainian officials and ministers to identify immediate needs and provide the expertise of UK businesses, as prioritised by the Government of Ukraine.
• The UK is supporting private sector engagement with Ukraine through several initiatives including on war insurance, and a CityUK-Ukraine Hub for sharing expertise in financial and professional services. The UK signed the UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement in November 2023, read more on gov.uk.