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Chris Bryant
LAB✓ Current MP
🏛️ Rhondda and Ogmore
📅 2001–2026
6,895 speeches on Hansard record
✅ Votes attended: 80.34% (#95 of 659 MPs)
🟢 Rebelled against party: 0.90%
📝 Topics: Telecommunications, Universal Credit, Broadband
🤝 Member of 2 All-Party Parliamentary Groups
Written Answers
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Department for Business and Trade
Decisions regarding an individual's professional recognition are made and recorded by independent regulators. Data related to the number of individuals who have the legal right to work in the UK but are unable to due to regulatory or accreditation barriers is therefore not collected by the…
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The government’s response to the call for evidence on UK accession to the Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention (PEM) was published on 26th March 2026.
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I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 5 February 2026 to Question 109565. Since then, the UK has sanctioned a further 6 targets in Russia’s Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) industry including ships, traders and Russia’s Portovaya and Vysotsk terminals responsible for exporting…
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Since the Houthi began attacks on international shipping in October 2023, global maritime trade via the Bab el Mandeb Strait (including ships coming to or leaving from the UK) has reduced very significantly. While precise trade figures for 2025 and onwards have yet to be released, global shipping…
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The UK has a range of measures in place to promote ethical business practices. In the Trade Strategy, the Government launched a review of the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct, focused on addressing human rights abuses, labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply…
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Reports of mistreatment in Hong Kong’s prisons are deeply concerning. The Government continues to express serious concerns about the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, including the implications of recent national security measures, and monitors associated human‑rights risks…
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We are establishing a new Supply Chain Centre within the Department for Business and Trade which will lead the government's efforts to strengthen the resilience of supply chains critical to the UK's security and prosperity. The Supply Chain Centre will collaborate with industry to ensure the UK is…
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The Government continues to highlight concerns about the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong in public statements, and monitors associated risks through wider human‑rights and supply‑chain due‑diligence policies. UK businesses are guided by NCSC supply‑chain security…
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Our bilateral cooperation with Spain is creating opportunities for British businesses, including the Spanish government’s decision to exempt British nationals from a visa requirement for the provision of services in stays of less than ninety days. This could be worth around £250 million…
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According to figures published by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the UK, the UK was the second largest destination for Spanish foreign direct investment stock at the end of 2023, supporting over 140,000 jobs in the UK in 2023.During her visit to Madrid, the Chancellor welcomed a £240m…
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UK Export Finance (UKEF) does not have a marketing budget specifically related to promoting UK businesses’ engagement in the Saudi or other individual markets.Details of UKEF’s overall expenditure on marketing for the current financial year will be included in the department’s…
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HMG recognises the importance of Green Corridors in demonstrating clean maritime technologies and laying the foundation for widespread decarbonisation. We are focussed on delivering this change through the International Maritime Organization and domestic action as set out in the Maritime…
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We do not set country specific annual targets for bilateral trade, but bilateral trade between the UK and Morocco has been rising and reached £4.8 billion in the 12 months to September 2025, an increase of £0.9 billion in current prices on the previous 12 months. In June 2025, during the…
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In the UK’s Trade Strategy, the government recognised the potential merits and impacts of UK accession to the Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention (PEM) and committed to engaging business further. The government ran a five-week call for evidence from November to December last year to understand…
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Announced at the 2025 Strategic Dialogue in June, the UK and Morocco entered into an Enhanced Strategic Partnership, reaffirming a commitment to expand economic ties and deepen collaboration in priority areas, including infrastructure, public procurement, agriculture and unlocking investment…
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The Department supported businesses to deliver export wins worth £16.9bn in 2020/21, £17.3bn in 2021/22, and £19.6bn in 2022/23. In 2023/24 over £36bn and almost £24bn in 2024/25 export wins were delivered.The Department does not provide country-specific wins due to the…
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Helping our world-class fashion industry grow remains a government priority. The FTA will expand consumer choice, reduce costs for UK businesses, and strengthen their competitiveness in India’s fast-growing market.DBT’s impact assessment, published at signature, noted a small decrease…
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Unfortunately, these commercial tracking numbers do not enable us to identify the relevant export or the relevant border.On the general point, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) informs exporters when their items are stopped at the border. If required, HMRC seeks advice from the Export…
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The UK-Brazil Joint Agricultural Committee, led by Defra, engages in discussions relating to sustainable agriculture. Recent discussions have covered topics including green fertiliser partnerships and collaboration on agricultural technologies. The UK and Brazil also have a number of bilateral…
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UK Export Finance (UKEF) has not supported any environmental credit investments to date.UKEF supports clean growth exports and has included a clean growth and transition objective in its Business Plan for 2024-2029, which will seek to position UK exporters and suppliers at the heart of the global…
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We have continued to enhance our cooperation with the EU on a range of economic security issues of mutual concern since the UK-EU Summit in 2025. The EU remains our most important trading partner, our economies are deeply interconnected and face many of the same challenges and threats, and we share…
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We have set up a dedicated team to coordinate work across Government to search historic paper and electronic files and identify documents on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s role and appointment as Special Representative for Trade and Investment in 2001. This Government is committed to complying…
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The UK Government is clear that Israeli settlements in Palestine are illegal under international law. The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, states there are clear risks to UK operators related to economic and financial activities in the settlements. We discourage such activity…
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The Department for Business and Trade is leading the Government’s response to the Humble Address on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as Special Representative on Trade and Investment. A small, Director-led team is co-ordinating work to identify relevant records, assisting…
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Over the last three years, the Department has spent, on average, the following amounts on the UK Trade Envoy Programme, including DBT staff costs. We intend the overall cost of the programme to reduce during the next financial…
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The Department of Business and Trade aims to respond to correspondence in 15 working days, but in some instances it can take longer. The Department apologises for the delay and confirms that the response has now been issued.
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The UK and EU are close partners with shared interests. We have agreed tariff free trade with the EU under the TCA, and we expect the EU to honour these obligations. The new steel tariff measures announced by the EU therefore present significant concern. We are engaging intensively with the…
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Any disclosure of specific meetings relating to defence is restricted to protect the principle of collective responsibility, allowing officials to debate policies freely in private.Various teams across the Department for Business and Trade contribute towards ongoing conversations in relation to the…
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We are finalising underpinning details and will share more information when we can.
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The Business and Trade Secretary is responsible for licensing the export of military goods. In his decisions he draws on advice from the Foreign Secretary, including with regard to compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL).Under the UK’s robust export licensing criteria, the…
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In line with the Trade Strategy, the UK continues to work with trading partners multilaterally, at the OECD and the UN, to pursue opportunities to improve ISDS practice, such as promoting transparency in ISDS proceedings. The proposals being discussed at the UN Commission for International Trade…
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In line with the Trade Strategy, the UK continues to work with trading partners multilaterally, at the OECD and the UN, to pursue opportunities to improve ISDS practice, such as promoting transparency in ISDS proceedings. The proposals being discussed at the UN Commission for International Trade…
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The UK is committed to working with Commonwealth partners and institutions to further strengthen trade and investment. Through engagement at Commonwealth meetings, the UK has worked with partners to promote sustainable growth, resilience, and a strong, rules‑based international trading…
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Our Trade Strategy, Industrial Strategy, and Small Business Plan drive export-led growth — giving small and medium-sized businesses across the UK the policies, support, and services they need to compete globally.For the first time, DBT has integrated its support for SMEs in a single, accessible…
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The UK will not make financial contributions to the European Union as a consequence of the provisions on competition cooperation. The UK‑EU Competition Cooperation Agreement signed on 25 February 2026 facilitates enhanced dialogue and operational cooperation between the Competition and…
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This Government notes the publication of the proposed EU Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) and the wider Made in Europe agenda. In general, the proposal suggests that UK content would be considered equivalent to “Union origin” by default for public procurement and public support schemes…
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The UK and EU are close partners with shared interests. We are engaging intensively on steel tariffs with the European Commission and are working to find a bilateral solution that protects vital UK-EU steel trade. We have made clear that restricting UK access to the EU market would disrupt key…
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I am delighted that many Indian students come to study in UK institutions and have done so for decades, enhancing our educational, diplomatic, political and business relationships, which is why India is one of the priority countries in our International Education Strategy 2026. Amongst other…
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Under the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership, the Department for Business and Trade has provided trade support to hundreds of UK businesses in Ukraine through:The Free Trade Agreement and tariff liberalisation to simplify trade;Tackling market access barriers which reduce or prevent trade;Maintaining…
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We expect to lay secondary legislation to deliver the sanctions end-use control this Spring, subject to the Parliamentary timetable.The sanctions end-use control is intended to apply to exports which are not already subject to strategic export controls, where a risk of circumvention to a sanctioned…
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The Department for Business and Trade hosted the first official-level EU Files Forum with key UK Business Representative Organisations on 5 June 2025. The Forum meets on a quarterly basis to facilitate a dialogue between government and the UK business community on evolving EU legislation.Since…
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UK Trade Envoy markets are identified in discussion with HM Trade Commissioners and the trade and investment opportunities available to UK business. Trade Envoys operate within wider trading policies in support of the Government’s objectives, working closely with Ministers and officials,…
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This is an impossible question to answer as the whole point of the UK Trade Envoy Programme is that it complements the work of UKEF and DBT’s direct export services in supporting SMEs. Trade Envoys provide high-level advocacy and market access, UKEF delivers financial backing, and DBT offers…
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UK Trade Envoys primarily support UK exports in their respective market, but they also help identify tariff and non-tariff barriers that impede trade.
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I am delighted to say that we are deepening our trading relationship with India through the UK India Free Trade Agreement, which is estimated to boost UK GDP by £4.8bn, increase wages by £2.2bn, and grow bilateral trade by £25.5bn each year in the long run.Every region and nation in…
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The Department for Business and Trade works closely with other UK Government Departments, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and many countries across the Africa continent, to consider a wide range of issues to make sure that two way trade and investment can grow through a…
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The Economic Prosperity Deal has reduced tariffs for UK exporters in critical sectors such as the car industry - this includes a preferential rate of 10% on 100,000 UK cars exported to the US each year.The UK exports around 100,000 cars a year, so this quota will ensure most cars entering the US…
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A review of the harmonised standard for ethnicity data collection is underway by the Government Statistical Service Harmonisation team. A public consultation between October 2025 and February 2026 sought views from a wide range of users, including Government Departments and public bodies, to…
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The Office for Responsible Business Conduct promotes the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct and provides a non-judicial grievance mechanism for complaints of non-observance by UK businesses. The government also launched a review, through the Trade…
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We are improving our relationship with the EU and will align with the EU where it is in our national interest. This will help reduce barriers to trade, and the bureaucracy and onerous paperwork for UK businesses, particularly SMEs. Alongside this, DBT publishes explainer documents on key EU…
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The Office for Responsible Business Conduct promotes the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct and provides a non-judicial grievance mechanism for complaints of non-observance by UK businesses. The government also launched a review, through the Trade…
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Negotiations with the Republic of Korea on an upgraded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have concluded and both sides are preparing for signature later this year. FTA negotiations continue with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Switzerland, Turkey and Greenland. Discussions on the UK-US Economic…
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Government Departments are required to apply at least 10% weighting to Social Value in tender evaluations, in line with the Social Value Model. Additionally, procurement regulations require that for all contracts worth more than £5 million, departments report and publish four Key Performance…
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We are undertaking detailed analysis to assess the potential impact of any closure of the Strait of Hormuz on British businesses. We are monitoring the situation closely and working across government to safeguard UK economic resilience. We have an export support team that businesses can reach out…
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The list of acts that received grant awards in the latest funding round of the Music Export Growth Scheme announced on 2 March 2026, were as follows:Amber Run, anaiis, And Also The Trees, Andrew Cushin, Antony Szmierek, As It Is, Asta Hiroki, Aurora Orchestra, bar italia, Bear's Den, Beth McCarthy,…
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The UK Government's Creative Industries Sector Plan, published in June 2025, set out creative industries trade and investment priorities for the period up to 2035 and announced an up to £30 million Music Growth Package which will include export support. My department continues to hold…
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In the latest round of Music Export Growth Scheme awards announced on 2 March, one Essex-based act, 'Essosa', received grant funding.
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The figure referenced in the press release was supplied by the BPI and is based on analysis of commercial outcomes reported by MEGS recipients in previous funding rounds. This is an industry estimate produced by the BPI and reflects their assessment of the scheme's impact on participating…
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UK-based music small and medium-sized enterprises can apply for Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) funding. Information on MEGS is available on the 'Find a Grant' service on Gov/UK. My department's MEGS delivery partner the BPI has a dedicated section on its website and shares details of MEGS…
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All businesses awarded MEGS funding were required to submit an application prior to approval which detailed the proposed activity to be delivered if the application was approved - that proposed activity was then assessed to ensure it satisfied the scheme eligibility criteria, specifically that the…
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We are delighted that as of January 1, 2026, UK farmers can, for the first time, make use of an exclusive 13,000 tonne quota for export to the United States. What the government has agreed with the US does not impact on our ability to negotiate trade agreements with other trading partners.Choosing…
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The Department is supporting UK meat producers to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal. This week, the first agri food trade mission visited the United States, accompanied by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; it provided UK…
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The Department is supporting UK meat producers to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal. This week, the first agri‑food trade mission visited the United States, accompanied by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; it…
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Through EPD negotiations, the UK has agreed preferential trading terms with the US in a range of sectors. This includes an exclusive 13,000 tonne quota for beef export to the United States. With the quota now open, UK beef producers are positioned to seize new opportunities in the US…
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Yes, all beef imported under the reciprocal 13,000‑tonne quota from the United States must meet the UK’s food safety and hygiene standards in precisely the same way as is required of British farmers. It also has to meet wider import requirements, including equivalent welfare standards…
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Although various teams across the Department for Business and Trade contribute towards these conversations and the responsibility is shared across several policy areas and does not fall to one singular official or directorate, we do not disclose details of specific meetings relating to national…
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The Trade Envoy Programme is a network of Parliamentarians appointed to specific markets by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade. Membership of the programme is cross party and includes representation from both the House of Commons and House of Lords. The programme abides by all…
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I refer the Member to the answer I gave on 5 March to question 117033.
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The government expects all UK businesses to respect human rights and the environment throughout their supply chains in line with the OECD Guidelines and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Section 54 of the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires businesses with a turnover of…
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Since September 2024 this Government has suspended licences for exports for the IDF that might be used in military operations in Gaza and we have continued to refuse relevant new licence applications on the same basis.Not all military licences for Israel have been suspended, as many relate to items…
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At 31 July 2025 there were 167 extant licences that include military items. Of these 84 were identified as being for, or supporting, re-export to third parties outside of Israel. These exports are defined as those where Israel is not the Ultimate End-User country, or where the re-export nature of…
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The Department does not hold continuous records on the number of export licences extant at any point over historic periods, but publishes data regularly based on decisions taken and has, on an exceptional basis, periodically published further detail on licences for Israel extant as at a point in…
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The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law.All export licence applications are assessed for the risk of diversion in line with Criterion 7 of the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria which considers the…
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This government is closely following the Commission's proposals for the Industrial Accelerator Act, and the EU’s Made in Europe agenda more widely and has engaged directly with Member States, the Commission and industry on the issue.We have been clear in discussions with EU counterparts that…
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The Government has invested in strengthening trade sanctions enforcement capacity. The Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) was established in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in October 2024. Alongside specialist investigative capacity, OTSI is equipped with powers to enforce…
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DBT spend* in the last 3 years on the UK Trade Envoy programme2023/20242024/20252025/2026£228,853£59,178£203,026*Figures do not include DBT staff costs and only relate to UK Trade Envoy expenditure such as flights, hotels, visas etc.Hospitality costs for the UK Trade Envoy programme…
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None in 2024 and 4 in 2025.
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The Department does not hold continuous records on the number of export licences extant at any point over historic periods, but publishes data regularly based on decisions taken and has, on an exceptional basis, periodically published further detail on licences for Israel extant as at a point in…
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The UK has introduced extensive trade sanctions to prevent Russia acquiring dual‑use items used in its military operations. Since March 2022, we have banned the export of all dual‑use goods and other high‑risk technologies, including products identified on the battlefield…
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The UK has introduced extensive trade sanctions to prevent Russia acquiring dual‑use items used in its military operations. Since March 2022, we have banned the export of all dual‑use goods and other high‑risk technologies, including products identified on the battlefield…
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The Government is committed to tackling forced labour in UK and global supply chains and ensuring that UK businesses are not complicit in human rights abuses. Import bans are one of a range of tools that could be used to tackle forced labour in global supply chains. The review launched in the Trade…
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Any reports of alleged wrongdoing in public office are taken seriously by the Government. The Government remains committed to meeting its statutory obligations on records management, disclosure, and cooperation with competent authorities, and any requests will be handled in accordance with…
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Since the publication of the Strategic Defence Review in June 2025, the Secretary of State for Business has regularly met with Cabinet colleagues to discuss a variety of measures/policies.Disclosure of such meetings is restricted to protect the principle of collective responsibility, allowing…
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Neither the Secretary of State nor I have held discussions with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth about anything.
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The Government is committed to rooting out human rights, labour and environmental abuses from global supply chains. To this end, the Government is progressing the Responsible Business Conduct Review at pace, while ensuring that we harness the insights of a range of stakeholders.The review is…
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The Office for Responsible Business Conduct’s (ORBC) Dispute Resolution Service, formerly the UK National Contact Point, operates independently from Ministers. In line with the ORBC’s rules of procedure, mediation has been offered to both parties to the Complaint following the…
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The Secretary of State for Business and Trade approved 67 grant awards for the Music Export Growth Scheme in 2024 and 59 grant awards in 2025.
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We do not have concrete estimates for private capital that will be leveraged and note that the MoU will serve to advance UK projects beyond just investment, including potential offtake agreements with US industry. In 2024, the UK exported around £2 billion worth of critical minerals and their…
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The UK currently applies 45 trade remedy measures, 28 of which are on goods from China. All live trade remedy cases can be viewed on their public file, online, including those investigations on goods of Chinese-origin. I am not aware of any plans from the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), or…
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Where businesses believe that they are being injured by dumped imports, they should engage with the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA). The TRA was established as the UK’s independent body responsible for conducting trade remedies investigations to tackle injury caused by practices such as…
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The Government seeks to drive up economic growth by extending UK exports. Our export control system seeks to enable responsible and legitimate international trade in military equipment and technology, and in dual-use items. We aim to conclude 70% of standard individual export licence applications…
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As part of the Responsible Business Conduct Review, the Government has engaged a number of international trading partners, including countries that have implemented human rights and environmental due diligence legislation. We shall update the House when the Review is complete.
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The MoU will help unlock more high‑quality potential investment into UK mining, processing and recycling. Our bilateral coordination will align with priorities set out in UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy with a view to boosting local growth and developing UK capabilities.
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The Department for Business and Trade does not hold this information. We continue to support UK businesses and have many avenues through which businesses of all sizes can explore opportunities to grow internationally. We will continue to review how we can support businesses moving forward.
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The UK’s Critical Mineral Strategy sets out ambitious success features to build domestic resilience and diversify global supply chains. These include meeting 10% of UK demand from domestic production, 20% from recycling and no more than 60% of any critical mineral from a single country. Our…
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No, my decision to extend the existing anti-dumping measure on ironing boards from China was not raised during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Beijing.
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I am in regular contact with Minister Sidhu as we seek ways to grow bilateral trade – worth £31bn in the 12 months to September 2025 and up 17% on the previous 12 months .Last year, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for…
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It would not be appropriate to comment on a live police investigation.
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The trade of illicit gold linked to conflict undermines the rule of law and has no place in UK supply chains and our global economy. The Government engages with the gold industry, in particular the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and the World Gold Council, as well as the Organisation for…
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The UK is clear that Israel's illegal settlements, and decisions designed to further them, are a flagrant violation of international law. We will take concrete steps, in accordance with international law, to counter settlement expansion, and to challenge policies and threats of forcible…
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We have had extensive and regular discussions with representatives of the Scotch Whisky industry throughout our negotiations with the US, as we do in relation to many other markets around the world. This engagement has helped us secure significant tariffs cuts in our other trade deals like with…
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Although the Government works closely with the Government of Ukraine to share knowledge and insight around the use of drones, neither I nor the Secretary of State for Business and Trade have had discussions on the import of drones from Ukraine with our counterparts.
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The Government expects all UK businesses to respect human rights and the environment throughout their supply chains in line with the OECD Guidelines and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Section 54 of the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires businesses with a turnover of…
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The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is reshaping its overseas footprint to maximise UK economic growth in line with the Trade, Industrial and Small Business Strategies. Our future network will focus on priority markets and growth driving sectors across DBT objectives in trade policy, inward…
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Four.
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Under the umbrella of the Business Growth Service, UK businesses can access DBT’s wealth of export support including the Business Academy, UK Export Finance, the International Markets network and one-to-one support from International Trade Advisers.DBT has built strong partnerships in West…
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I attended a Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) ministerial meeting in Melbourne in November and a more recent virtual meeting, at which we discussed the progress made by Costa Rica to join the agreement. I have also spoken about this with several of my…
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The Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub is part of the Business Growth Service, which helps UK businesses access export support including the Business Academy, UK Export Finance, the International Markets network and support from International Trade Advisers. The Department continues to engage with…
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Our new approach to Africa will place mutual growth at the centre of our relationships with the region. We have strengthened UK-Africa trade by building on the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which will simplify trading rules, boost African exports, and support growth. We support the African…
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This Department has signed a range of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) since 5 July 2025 to help drive economic growth. However, these are not routinely published or notified to Parliament in line with HMG policy on non-legally binding instruments and in some cases to respect the confidentiality…
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Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means for investors to resolve disputes with states where they believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory, or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation.An independent Tribunal determines the level of…
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On 12 December 2025, a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of Lithuanian and UAE engine oils and hydraulic fluids came into effect. The circumvention of imports into the UK is monitored by HMRC which carries out risk-based and intelligence-led checks to tackle any abuse of UK duties.…
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World Trade Organization (WTO) membership has resulted in substantial benefits to our, and the global, economy with WTO research showing Members having increased trade by around 171%, between 1980-2016. However, the WTO needs to evolve to address modern challenges. The UK is actively supporting WTO…
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UKEF’s office footprint is managed by the Government Property Agency, which is responsible for the provision of all energy and utility services. UKEF mitigates operational emissions arising from business travel through policies to reduce the cost of business travel; these measures do not…
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The current UK-Swiss Free Trade Agreement dates back to 1972 and covers goods but not services. UK-Swiss services trade is worth around £30 billion annually and our exports to Switzerland support over 100,000 jobs across the UK. Negotiations on an enhanced trade deal with Switzerland are…
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UK Export Finance (UKEF) has a network of Export Finance Managers (EFMs) around the whole country who are valuable points of contact for local businesses and can provide information on the range of support available. Contact details for the Essex EFM, and others can be found at:…
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The recently published report by Oxford Economics, Analysing UKEF-Supported Supply Chains (which is available online at: Research and Analysis: Analysing UKEF-supported supply chains - GOV.UK), shows that exporters in UK Export Finance’s (UKEF’s) direct customer base support a further…
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The UK draws on the full range of investment commitments and international best practice in our international investment agreements to promote growth, deliver our clean energy goals, and continue to uphold the UK’s right to regulate.Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an…
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Given that the software rules apply from Model Year 2027 and the hardware rules from 2029, many manufacturers are still assessing their supply chains and how to remain compliant. This information is commercially sensitive, so I cannot comment on individual plans, but we continue to engage closely…
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The work to update UKEF’s climate stress testing models in 2024-25 is in line with industry good practice on financial risk management and uses tools at no extra cost. This work is part of our ongoing responsibilities to meet government risk management requirements and was carried out by UKEF…
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DBT is taking steps to reduce regulatory barriers for exporting businesses by supporting the uptake of digitalised trade processes. Through the Digital Trade Corridors programme, focused on key European markets such as France and Germany, we are identifying regulatory and policy barriers and…
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Negotiations on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal are ongoing. Discussions include tariff and non‑tariff barriers, digital and services trade, and sectors under section 232 investigation.We will keep the House fully informed on these developments along with the expected economic outcomes of…
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The UK and China have agreed to launch a Bilateral Services Partnership, developed in response to UK business' asks for clearer rules, better market access, and practical support to benefit from China's increasing demand for high-quality UK services. The UK and China have also agreed to conduct a…
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The recently published report by Oxford Economics, Analysing UKEF-Supported Supply Chains (which is available online at: Research and Analysis: Analysing UKEF-supported supply chains - GOV.UK), shows that in the last five years, deals supported by UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export…
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The joint feasibility study for a UK-China Trade in Services Agreement is an exploratory stage; it’s not a commitment to negotiate an agreement. The study is intended to identify areas of shared interest and assess the potential benefits and challenges involved in a potential bilateral Trade…
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The UK-China Bilateral Services Partnership (BSP) Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Thursday 29 January between the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle, and the Minister for Commerce, Wang Wentao.The BSP represents a commitment between the UK and China to deepen practical…
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The lending commitment facility is not time limited. We have not made a formal assessment of how much of the lending commitment is expected to be drawn down in each financial year. The support that the participating banks can offer to businesses hoping to export is not restricted to this lending…
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The Department for Business and Trade has integrated its support for SMEs in a single, accessible place – the Business Growth Service – making it easier and quicker for businesses to access the right support at the right time.Business.gov.uk hosts our online export offer and is the…
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The UK‑China Bilateral Services Partnership (BSP) is designed to deliver high‑value benefits for UK businesses in the world’s second-largest services import market.UK services exports to China rose 81% in current prices between 2016 and 2024. However, in 2024 the UK had nearly a…
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We respect the independence of the International Court of Justice and continue to consider the Court’s Advisory Opinion carefully, with the seriousness and rigour it deserves.
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The proposed Industrial Accelerator Act has not yet been published by the European Commission, but we share and understand concerns expressed by industry in this country and within the European Union about the potential impact of an overly restrictive ‘made in Europe’ policy. We…
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The Department for Business and Trade does not supply body armour, and the export of body armour for personal protection when accompanying its user (for their own use) is not subject to export control. Nonetheless the Department has approved 12 licences for the export of protective body armour for…
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As set out in the 30 January press release, hundreds of millions worth of new investment was secured as part of the visit, alongside £2.2 billion in export deals. This includes investment from HiTHIUM, Chery Commercial Vehicle, Asymchem, and POP MART.Further detail can be found in the press…
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No, we will not be making such a precise assessment, but the EU is our closest partner and biggest trading market and we are committed to making trade easier by removing unnecessary barriers to trade. To date, many UK regulations continue to align in the main with EU regulations. We are aware that…
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The Department for Business and Trade has not undertaken an assessment of the administrative costs incurred by UK haulage operators. However, we continue to engage with businesses to understand and resolve the barriers they face in trading with the EU. We are also making strong progress on last…
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The government remains committed to tackling barriers to trade, including through implementation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), to bring benefits to businesses and achieve economic growth. DBT holds regular engagement with the EU, including through the UK-EU Specialised Committee on…
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The package is a commitment from the UK’s top high-street banks to lend more to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) using UKEF’s guarantee, to boost UK exports and economic growth. It signals to SMEs that want to export that there is a dedicated pool of capital available for them…
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On average, from 2022 to 2024, the agreement between the UK and SACUM members has resulted in over £2.3bn of imports entering the UK eligible for reduced duties each year, with £2.1bn benefitting from the lower duty rate afforded under the agreement. During this time, more than…
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As a State Party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the UK takes its obligations seriously and continues to fulfil them. The UK takes a comprehensive approach across government and globally to directly tackle the issue of cluster munitions, including adopting national legislation. The UK…
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This Government is committed to rooting out human rights and labour abuses from global supply chains. We support responsible business conduct standards to accelerate the positive contribution of companies to sustainable development and help businesses avoid and address any direct or indirect…
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Through EPD negotiations, the UK has agreed preferential trading terms with the US in a range of sectors. This includes locking in a 10% “reciprocal” tariff, 0% for aerospace and pharmaceuticals, and 10% for cars within quota. The UK is also the only country to have avoided 50% steel…
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The package is a commitment from the UK’s top high-street banks to lend more to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) using UK Export Finance’s (UKEF’s) guarantee, to boost UK exports and economic growth. It signals to SMEs that want to export that there is a dedicated pool of…
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The UK Government continues to support British businesses through free trade and mutual recognition agreements, in line with the Trade Strategy. These agreements typically include provisions that support the accreditation and conformity assessment sectors, providing British businesses with enhanced…
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On 8 May 2025, the UK Government announced a landmark economic deal with the US that included new reciprocal market access on beef – giving UK farmers a guaranteed quota for 13,000 metric tonnes of beef exports. All food imports into the UK, including those agreed with the US, must comply…
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It was this government that got the first trade deal with the US, protecting British jobs and saving people money. We remain the only country to have secured a 10% tariff on cars within quota, agreed a 0% tariff on pharmaceutical exports to the US, and avoided the 50% global steel and aluminium…
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Any final agreement will be scrutinised by Parliament in line with established procedures. Any primary or secondary legislation required to implement an agreement will also be subject to standard legislative procedures.
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Full details of the activities undertaken by UK Export Finance (UKEF) relating to net zero, climate or sustainability objectives can be found in the UK Export Finance Annual Report and Accounts 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK.
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In its role as the UK’s export credit agency, UK Export Finance (UKEF) provided a loan guarantee on commercial terms that will enable UK companies to supply goods and services to the Belgian bottle plant. Through this guaranteed loan, UKEF is supporting Tecoglas Limited, a Sheffield based…
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In December 2025 we agreed a landmark deal with the US that results in 0% tariffs on pharmaceutical exports to the US for 3 years – the lowest rate offered to any country. As you’d expect, there will now be further work to finalise underpinning details. Costs will start smaller but will…
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The UK is well prepared to respond to economic coercion and has a strong and flexible toolkit to defend its interests. We can act through diplomatic engagement, international dispute mechanisms, and cooperation with allies, including the G7. We also retain the ability to use trade and…
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Soon.
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It is too soon to presume on the final outcomes of FTA negotiations; we are making strong progress with a fourth negotiation round scheduled next month.Turkey is an important trading partner for the UK, with bilateral trade worth £28 billion in the 12 months to September 2025, doubling in…
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UK goods exports to the US amounted to £63 billion in the 12 months to the end of September 2025.Thanks to the Economic Prosperity Deal, the UK has secured 0% tariffs for the aerospace sector, preferential 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium and cut automotive tariffs to 10% within quota,…
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Having retained our cool-headed approach and robustly defended the rights of the people of Greenland and the kingdom of Denmark alone to determine their future, we are glad that the President has announced that these tariffs will not be proceeding.
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The Department for Business and Trade has lead responsibility for implementation of the General Terms of the UK‑US Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD), which sits within my Trade Policy portfolio, with overall oversight from the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.Delivery of the EPD draws…
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The different methodologies used by the department are under constant review. We publish updates on changes if and when changes are made.
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The Economic Growth Partnership is a non-legally binding framework that will deepen cooperation between the UK and Indonesian Governments on areas of interest to our businesses, including in Financial Services.The Economic Growth Partnership reaffirms the commitment by Indonesia’s Ministry of…
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By 2030 Indonesia is predicted to be the 16th largest economy globally, and the 9th largest by 2050. Indonesia’s growing middle class, abundant natural resources and economic potential presents trade and investment opportunities for UK companies. The Economic Growth Partnership provides a…
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The Economic Growth Partnership is a non-legally binding framework that will deepen cooperation between the UK and Indonesian Governments on areas of interest to our businesses. It is a signal of the UK and Indonesia’s commitment to grow our bilateral trade and investment.The Economic Growth…
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Licence applications for the export of controlled goods, including bombs and ammunition, are considered by the Export Control Joint Unit. Relevant teams, including technical experts and officials within DBT, FCDO and MOD, consider every application on a case-by-case basis. On the basis of such…
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We do not assess the direct effects of individual Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) on specific types of businesses within specific counties, nor do we monitor the way they are utilised in such granular detail.However, we do publish assessments of the potential economic, sectoral, distributional and…
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No Ministers have received any coaching in foreign languages since July 2024.
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The Government laid the treaty text of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement before Parliament on 21 January. The statutory period provided by the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 will commence on 22 January. The Government is prioritising bringing the deal into force as quickly as…
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The upgraded UK-Republic of Korea (RoK) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) guarantees permanent tariff-free access to 98% of RoK’s lines, ensuring £2 billion of UK goods exports at risk of additional duties can continue to benefit from reduced tariffs. New services provisions could also help…
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The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump on 18 January. DBT Ministers and officials are in regular contact with all levels of the US Administration. Although I attended an event with the American Ambassador celebrating our shared trade, when we talked about a variety of subjects, including…
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Having retained our cool-headed approach and robustly defended the rights of the people of Greenland and the kingdom of Denmark alone to determine their future, we are glad that the President has announced that these tariffs will not be proceeding.
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The UK government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in Palestine are illegal under international law. The UK has sanctioned individuals, illegal settler outposts and organisations supporting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank, as well as Minister of National…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 93339 on 27 November 2025: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.
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We have not made such a precise assessment but since we are still working towards concluding negotiations on the Youth Experience Scheme by the next EU-UK summit, I cannot provide a running commentary on ongoing negotiations. We will update the House in the usual way as soon as possible.
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Under a Youth Experience Scheme, young Brits and EU citizens will be given the opportunity to travel and work abroad, providing a highly valuable form of cultural exchange. My Department is committed towards the inclusion of as many sectors as possible to provide the widest possible set of…
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We remain committed to improving the recognition of professional qualifications with the EU. Highly skilled professionals from the EU make a valuable contribution to the UK’s regulated sectors and vice versa. We continually assess the benefits that mutual recognition would bring, including…
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We recognise the merits of improving market access across the board, which is why we remain committed to improving market access for UK service providers, including legal services. The EU is the most economically significant destination for UK legal services exports, at £3.3bn in 2024.We…
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Businesses will benefit from better trade terms with Canada once they ratify our CPTPP accession, which should happen later this year. Canada began its ratification legislative process last September, and it is making good progress through their Parliament.My Department is helping businesses take…
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My Department is committed to supporting British exporters, including by ensuring they can trade under CPTPP terms with Canada as soon as possible.UK businesses will benefit from the CPTPP Customs Chapter, which promotes efficient, consistent, transparent, and predictable customs procedures, while…
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In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading…
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In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading…
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The landmark UK-India trade deal includes chapters on labour, gender, environment and anti-corruption. In common with most free trade agreements it enables the two partners to discuss important matters including human rights on a regular basis. It is not our only means of advancing concerns.The…
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In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading…
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In order to assess regulations as they affect business, the department employs a number of methodologies and draws on data from a wide variety of internal and external sources. We have not identified any data gaps that limit the Department’s ability to assess regulations. For example, in…
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The Department engages regularly with the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), including on matters related to steel product categories. The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led, and we encourage bright steel bar and bright drawing businesses to raise any concerns directly with the TRA. In…
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We have not made such specific assessments, however we are keen to progress a UK Deposit Return Scheme and are currently evaluating the Welsh Government's proposal for an exclusion from the UK Internal Market Act as set out in the UK Internal Market Act Review published in July 2025.As part of that…
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The Government is committed to tackling forced labour in UK and global supply chains and ensuring that UK businesses are not complicit in human rights abuses. A range of existing measures already support this, including the Procurement Act 2023, Overseas Business Risk guidance, and the Modern…
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The Department for Business and Trade has not undertaken an assessment of the impact of trade regulation on port congestion or throughput at individual ports. The Department has not received representation from industry indicating that current trade regulation is having a material impact on port…
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DBT does not hold detailed shipment-level customs export data. For goods export data, you should refer to HMRC, who publish UK trade in goods statistics by partner country and product which can be found on www.uktradeinfo.com.Since September 2024, this Government has suspended licences for exports…
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HMG remains committed to making it easier for UK and EU professionals to have their qualifications recognised across regulated professions.In the 2025 Common Understanding, the UK and EU committed to setting up dedicated dialogues on the Trade and Cooperation Agreement provisions which enable…
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The Department for Business and Trade has collected business feedback on domestic regulation through a business questionnaire and will continue to run the Business Perceptions Survey to gather quantitative data.
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In 2025 Q1 (between 1 January and 31 March 2025), 2,732 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) were issued, and 140 were refused. 260 were withdrawn. In 2025 Q2 (between 1 April and 30 June 2025), 2,612 SIELs were issued, and 104 were refused.221 were withdrawn. These numbers reflect military…
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Performance indicators the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) uses for market access are barriers reported, barriers resolved, and the potential value of opportunities associated with barriers resolved. During the financial year 2024-25, 394 barriers were reported and 129 barriers were fully…
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No cumulative impact has been conducted, but Article VIII of the WTO General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade limits fees and charges in connection with importation to the approximate cost of services rendered. The UK has also consistently sought through its FTAs to limit the fees and charges that…
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The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has been publishing the number of reported market access barriers as official statistics since 2021. These annual statistics are also regularly published in the DBT annual report and accounts as indicators on departmental performance. These barriers are…
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We are changing how we deliver export support in line with the Trade Strategy, and in response to the asks of businesses and our stakeholders. We aim to make this more accessible and easier to navigate and to use technology to deliver more cost-effective and impactful support.This change process is…
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Since the UK-Morocco Association Agreement entered into force in 2021, bilateral trade has been rising and reached £4.6 billion in the 12 months to the end of June 2025, an increase of 18.8% or £730 million in current prices, from the previous 12 months. The Agreement underpins bilateral…
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As the Honourable Member would expect, we do not direct the effects of individual Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) towards specific organisations within specific constituencies, nor do we monitor the way they are exploited in such granular detail. However, FTAs have an important role to play in…
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This Government is strengthening trade with Jamaica through multiple initiatives. UK Export Finance has signed a Framework for Cooperation with the Jamaican government enabling us to support a range of critical infrastructure projects with substantial UK content, including the replacement of…
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It is still ongoing and will conclude when an agreement can be reached that benefits both the UK and Morocco.
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As set out in the Trade and Industrial strategies, this Government remains committed to strengthening UK-African trade and investment ties. According to the latest UNCTAD data, the UK had the second highest level of FDI stock in Africa at the end of 2023, after the Netherlands, and this strong…
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Sudan is at the heart of our diplomatic efforts. We are doing everything possible to end the horrific violence that is taking place, to protect civilians, deliver aid, and secure a lasting ceasefire.There is a longstanding UK arms embargo in place for the whole of the country and we are not aware…
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