Department for International Trade

Each assessment references the sources used.

Each assessment references the sources used.

Each assessment references the sources used.

HM Government is committed to equality of opportunity for men and women, including through our trade policy. We want the World Trade Organisation’s work to take this issue into account routinely, building on progress already made in implementing the Buenos Aires Declaration. Further, we have sought commitments in our bilateral free trade agreements to date, securing stand-alone chapters on this with Australia and New Zealand.

The UK National Contact Point (UK NCP), which operates independently of the Department for International Trade, has not found that JCB violated human rights. However, in line with the OECD Guidelines, the UK NCP has advised JCB to develop a policy commitment to respect human rights and to carry out human rights due diligence in supply chains.

The UK NCP will request an update from JCB on the implementation of its recommendations in a year’s time and in the interim is available to provide support as necessary.

As part of its commitment to the OECD Guidelines, the UK NCP promotes the Guidelines to business, NGOs and trade unions, and is available to provide advice on adhering to the recommendations it contains.

Trade, and the overall prosperity of a nation, suffers when there is conflict such as in Ethiopia. HM Government is encouraging all parties in Ethiopia to come to a quick and peaceful resolution to provide stability there and in the immediate region.

Trade Envoys and Special Representatives appointed by the Department are required to declare gifts and hospitality that they receive in their roles. Trade Envoys and Special Representatives are also required to declare any interests (perceived or actual). The Department for International Trade (DIT) considers if any mitigations are needed on a case-by-case basis. We have no plans to publish a list of all such gifts and conflicts of interest for the last 10 years. It is the responsibility of the Trade Envoy to inform the Department of any change in their circumstances, and the Government can terminate any appointment where appropriate declarations have not been made.

The United Kingdom is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all, and promoting respect between different communities.  Promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief is one of the United Kingdom’s longstanding overseas priorities.

We believe that trade is vital for our economy and future prosperity, but it need not come at the expense of our values. We engage with India on a range of matters, independent of a Free Trade Agreement, as part of our ongoing bilateral relationship. This involves working with Union and State Governments, and with non-governmental organisations, to build capacity and share expertise.

HM Government is committed to ensuring that our trade policy is consistent with our international obligations. We are clear that more trade need not come at the expense of our values.

The United Kingdom respects the territorial integrity of Indonesia, including the provinces of Papua and West Papua. We recognise challenges in the region and regularly discuss Papua with our Indonesian counterparts.

I refer my Hon. Friend for Wycombe to the answer I gave him on the 26^th November 2021, UIN: 77444.

We will always consider the effects of any trade agreement we negotiate on the agricultural industry, and we have a range of tools to defend British farming against any unfair trading practices. The Australia and New Zealand Free Trade Agreements both include safeguards for our farmers.

In addition, the independent Trade and Agriculture Commission will scrutinise new free trade agreements once they are signed, providing an additional layer of independent scrutiny.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) intends to grow over 550 roles outside London by 2025 as part of the cross-Government Places for Growth programme. DIT’s second major location will be the Darlington Economic Campus, alongside three new trade and investment offices in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. While DIT does not currently have plans for an office location in York, the Darlington Economic Campus will support delivery of the Levelling Up agenda in the across the North of England, including through increased job opportunities and associated economic benefits.

My Rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade has spoken with the US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, most recently on 12 November, to press for a quick resolution to the Section 232 tariffs. The removal of additional US tariffs on steel and aluminium is a key priority for the Government. We are engaging with the US Administration regularly on this issue and continue to push for the start of negotiations and the removal of 232 tariffs as soon as possible.

My Rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade has spoken with the US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, most recently on 12 November, to press for a quick resolution to the Section 232 tariffs. The removal of additional US tariffs on steel and aluminium is a key priority for the Government. We are engaging with the US Administration regularly on this issue and continue to push for the start of negotiations and the removal of 232 tariffs as soon as possible.

There are no such countries, other than Iran.

133 of the barriers fully or partially resolved in the financial year 2020-21 were reported to the Digital Market Access Service (DMAS) during the year. 84 of the market access barriers marked as fully or partially resolved in the year were reported to DMAS in a previous year.

161 of the barriers fully or partially resolved in the financial year 2019-20 were reported to DMAS during the year. 20 of the market access barriers marked as fully or partially resolved in the year were reported to DMAS in a previous year.

133 of the barriers fully or partially resolved in the financial year 2020-21 were reported to the Digital Market Access Service (DMAS) during the year. 84 of the market access barriers marked as fully or partially resolved in the year were reported to DMAS in a previous year.

161 of the barriers fully or partially resolved in the financial year 2019-20 were reported to DMAS during the year. 20 of the market access barriers marked as fully or partially resolved in the year were reported to DMAS in a previous year.

133 of the barriers fully or partially resolved in the financial year 2020-21 were reported to the Digital Market Access Service (DMAS) during the year. 84 of the market access barriers marked as fully or partially resolved in the year were reported to DMAS in a previous year.

161 of the barriers fully or partially resolved in the financial year 2019-20 were reported to DMAS during the year. 20 of the market access barriers marked as fully or partially resolved in the year were reported to DMAS in a previous year.

We are unable to provide the information requested because UK Export Finance’s support for the Mozambique LNG project in Cabo Delgado is currently the subject of judicial review proceedings.

The Department for International Trade recently launched its new Export Strategy which included announcing the UK Tradeshow Programme. The scheme provides eligible UK businesses in all sectors, including Maritime, with bespoke trade show educational support to help maximise their potential and optimise their exhibition experience. Some applicants will also be offered financial assistance towards eligible costs.

Applications opened on 30 November 2021 with the aim of supporting businesses who are looking to exhibit. The programme will expand from January 2022, offering support to businesses to attend a show as a precursor to deciding whether to exhibit in the future. Further information, including details on how companies can apply for the programme, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-tradeshow-programme.

HM Government publishes scoping assessments to provide a preliminary assessment of a free trade agreement (FTA) in advance of negotiations. Following the conclusion of negotiations, a full Impact Assessment is published.

These set out HM Government’s current assessment of a new FTA, including the impact on wages and composition of employment across sectors.

I refer my Hon. Friend for West Bromwich West to my previous answer to my Hon. Friend for Hendon on 30^th November (UIN: 79331).

Strengthening the United Kingdom-India bilateral trade relationship to support jobs and economic growth across the country is a priority for HM Government.

Ministers are in regular contact with our counterparts to make progress on a future bilateral Free Trade Agreement, building on our Enhanced Trade Partnership announced by my Rt Hon. Friend the Prime Minister in May 2021, as well as wider trade ambitions set out in the United Kingdom-India 2030 Roadmap.

In certain cases, businesses will need to choose between the duty drawback or the preferential rates. This is the case for the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement.

The UK has plans to renegotiate its agreement with Canada and will carefully assess its position on such restrictions.

In certain cases, businesses will need to choose between the duty drawback or the preferential rates.

However, in the case of the UK-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, traders would not be affected by this in practice because Singapore applies a zero Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rate to most tariff lines.

In certain cases, businesses will need to choose between the duty drawback or the preferential rates. This is the case for UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement.

The UK-Israel relationship is already strong and growing and we are planning to start work on upgrading our trade agreement next year.

In certain cases, businesses will need to choose between the duty drawback or the preferential rates. This is the case for UK-Mexico Trade Continuity Agreement.

The UK has plans to renegotiate its agreement with Mexico and will carefully assess its position on such restrictions.

UK Export Finance’s climate change report considered, among many other factors, the project’s alignment to the Paris Agreement.

UK Export Finance is unable to provide this information for reasons of commercial sensitivity.

Barriers reported refers to the number of cases identified as being registered on the Digital Market Access Service (DMAS) over a given time period, based on the data at the point of extraction. DMAS is an operational database used by government officials to assist in the removal of market access barriers.

As such, entries on DMAS are subject to ongoing revision to reflect activity and regular system administration updates are made to make sure the database is kept accurate. This can involve archiving cases established to be duplicates or identified not to be market access barriers after further investigation. This means that an extract taken from the live database on different occasions covering the same time period can return different figures.

Figures published in the Department for International Trade (DIT) Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) 2019-20 on the number of market access resolved barriers in that financial year were based on the number of barriers reported and resolved within the year. For the DIT ARA 2020-21, this measure was changed to include barriers resolved regardless of when they were reported.

This makes sure the full range of resolution activity is measured, rather than only barrier resolutions soon after identification and reflects that, for some barriers, resolution will take longer because of the complexities involved.

Barriers reported refers to the number of cases identified as being registered on the Digital Market Access Service (DMAS) over a given time period, based on the data at the point of extraction. DMAS is an operational database used by government officials to assist in the removal of market access barriers.

As such, entries on DMAS are subject to ongoing revision to reflect activity and regular system administration updates are made to make sure the database is kept accurate. This can involve archiving cases established to be duplicates or identified not to be market access barriers after further investigation. This means that an extract taken from the live database on different occasions covering the same time period can return different figures.

Figures published in the Department for International Trade (DIT) Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) 2019-20 on the number of market access resolved barriers in that financial year were based on the number of barriers reported and resolved within the year. For the DIT ARA 2020-21, this measure was changed to include barriers resolved regardless of when they were reported.

This makes sure the full range of resolution activity is measured, rather than only barrier resolutions soon after identification and reflects that, for some barriers, resolution will take longer because of the complexities involved.

Senior Civil Servants employed by Department for International Trade based in 12 NUTS1 UK regions in March 2019, March 2020, March 2021 and September 2021 are detailed in the attached.

These figures are represented as Headcount (e.g., count of individuals). These figures provide information on domestic payroll staff only. These figures do not include those on Loan from Other Government Departments (OGDs) who remain on their home departments payroll, Contractors, Military staff, Individuals on secondment from other organisations, those who are on loan or secondment out of DIT, on unpaid special leave or career break. UK Export Finance are not included in the above figures. UKEF figures are below:

Counts of less than five have been supressed and totals for each month not shown in order to prevent individuals from being identified, as guided by the Office for National Statistics guidance.

No Department for International Trade Ministers travelled to COP26 by airplane.

Ministers holding meetings or phone calls on government business are routinely accompanied by a private secretary or other official, in line with the expectations of paragraph 8.14 of the Ministerial Code.

I refer the Hon. Gentleman for Rochdale to the answer given to the Hon.Gentleman for Sefton Central on 23 November to Question UIN: 77440.

The Department is already taking steps to increase global investment into the UK’s maritime sector to complement the Government’s ambitions. The UK intends to establish 10 freeports across the country with at least one in every nation of the UK. Several of these will promote maritime clusters and will act as national hubs for global trade and investment across the UK. Additionally, the recent launch of DIT's Investment Atlas allows prospective investors to navigate the UK’s investment environment. The tool identifies several maritime sub-sectors such as off-shore wind and green shipping as areas of potential.

Civil Servants employed by Department for International Trade (DIT) based in 12 NUTS1 UK regions in March, June and September 2021:

*Changes to figures in the South East of England from March 2021 are based upon the creation of the Trade Remedies Authority who now report people information separately to DIT.

These figures are represented as Headcount (e.g., count of individuals). These figures provide information on domestic payroll staff only. These figures do not include those on Loan from Other Government Departments (OGDs) who remain on their home departments payroll, Contractors, Military staff, Individuals on secondment from other organisations, those who are on loan or secondment out of DIT, on unpaid special leave or career break. UK Export Finance are not included in the above figures.

We have made great progress in securing trade deals around the world; to date, we have agreed deals with 70 countries, plus the EU, covering trade worth £766 billion last year.

This year, we signed a new deal with the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and we have reached Agreement-in-Principle with both Australia and New Zealand.

We have begun the accession process for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP); are preparing for negotiations with India, Canada and Mexico; and have also launched a public consultation on a trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council. We are due to begin work next year on an enhanced and improved FTA with Israel too.

The United Kingdom-Switzerland Joint Trade Committee updated the Rules of Origin protocol through a Joint Committee Decision on 16^th July 2021. The changes have been provisionally applied since 1^st September 2021, whilst the United Kingdom and Switzerland undergo parliamentary procedures to bring the amendment into force.

The changes reflect the revision of the rules between Switzerland and the EU as part of the updates to the Regional Convention on Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) Preferential Rules of Origin that Switzerland are subject to. They provide modernised rules of origin provisions, including removing the duty drawback prohibition on all products other than textiles, as is the case in the revised PEM rules of origin.

The United Kingdom-Switzerland Joint Trade Committee updated the Rules of Origin protocol through a Joint Committee Decision on 16^th July 2021. The changes have been provisionally applied since 1^st September 2021, whilst the United Kingdom and Switzerland undergo parliamentary procedures to bring the amendment into force.

The changes reflect the revision of the rules between Switzerland and the EU as part of the updates to the Regional Convention on Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) Preferential Rules of Origin that Switzerland are subject to. They provide modernised rules of origin provisions, including removing the duty drawback prohibition on all products other than textiles, as is the case in the revised PEM rules of origin.

On 19^th October Her Majesty the Queen and the Prime Minister hosted the UK’s Global Investment Summit which was held in London and attended by over 170 global investors and decision makers.

The event was used to showcase that the UK is open for business and the country’s green and clean growth capabilities aligned to the Prime Minister’s 10-Point Plan. During the event, the Prime Minister also announced over £9billion of foreign investment across the UK in multiple clean and green sectors.

The Department for International Trade also launched the new Investment Atlas – an online platform designed to help international investors identify investment opportunities across the whole of the UK. The Atlas was launched with 53 initial strategic investment opportunities, each with a strong sustainability element aligned with the key themes set out in the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan. The number of opportunities will continue to grow over the coming months.

The Department, together with Office for Investment, are now working with No.10 colleagues to ensure that HM Government can capitalise on the momentum and legacy of this historic event.

The US-EU deal on the application of Section 232 tariffs comes into effect from 1 January. The Government continues to work closely with the steel and aluminium industries to understand the potential implications of the US-EU deal.

Following the announcement of a US-EU deal on the application of Section 232 tariffs, the US issued a statement reflecting our ongoing discussions on this issue and committing to resume talks with the UK. In preparation, we continue to work closely with the steel and aluminium industries to understand the implications of the US-EU deal. Any deal that the UK secures with the US must work for the steel and aluminium sectors. We also continue to engage with UK importers, and will publish a response to the public consultation on our rebalancing measures in due course.

We are pleased that US Department of Agriculture is looking to remove the import restrictions for ‘sheepmeat’. This will be a major milestone in the process of restoring access to the American market. It will be followed by further steps, including agreeing specific SPS and certifications conditions and requirements with Food Safety Inspection Service in the US; and domestic preparations, such as audits of British production establishments. We look forward to supporting the resumption of exports once this is finalised.