Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about UK trade agreements and providing me with the link to the UK Trade and Business Commission’s First Annual Report.
I am proud to support the Government’s ambitious trade policy, which will seize on the opportunities available to us as a sovereign trading nation. This trade policy will champion and enhance the UK’s reputation as a world-leading, open and business friendly destination for foreign investment, whilst also strengthening critical supply chains and improving the UK’s security and economic resilience through international trade. The Government will continue to support businesses in tackling trade barriers, as well as working with partners to strengthen the international trading system and update the global trading rules in support of free and fair trade.
Recent achievements of this trade policy include securing far-reaching trade agreements with Australia (UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)), New Zealand (UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) and Singapore (Trade with Singapore - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)). These deals further pave the way for UK accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a vast free trade area populated by half a billion people and with a joint GDP of £8.4 trillion in 2020. I welcome that negotiations have substantially concluded to accede the UK to the CPTPP. The next step in the accession process will be a legal review of the agreement text. This will be followed by formal signature of the agreement. After this, the Department for Business and trade will commission the Trade and Agriculture Commission to prepare its advice on the impact of the agreement on plant and animal life. The agreement text will then be formally laid in Parliament. You can read more about these negotiations here: Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP): conclusion of negotiations - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Regarding trade with the EU, I am pleased that the Government launched the Export Support Service, Dedicated hotline and online service launched for UK exporters - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). No matter the size of the business, how much they export or where in the UK they are based, businesses can use the Export Support Service to get answers to practical questions. While the service currently focuses on questions businesses have about trading with Europe, it will expand to cover more global markets later this year, Ask the export support team a question - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
My ministerial colleagues are aware of the report, and I am confident they will give its recommendations due consideration.
Sincerely,
