Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Taiwan about future trade relations between the two nations when the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
Taiwan is an important trading partner for the UK. Our bilateral trade was £6.6bn in 2018, an increase of 16.4% from 2017. UK exports to Taiwan grew by 40% from £1.96bn to £2.76bn (latest [ONS] data). As we leave the EU, we are committed to strengthening our trade partnership with Taiwan, and across Asia Pacific, including through the annual UK-Taiwan Trade Talks – due to take place in London in October. The Department of International Trade’s Ministers visited Taiwan twice last year, and events like the Taipei Smart Cities Summit and Expo held in March are a crucial way to strengthen relationships in key sectors.