Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with which countries the Government is engaged in trade talks with.
Answered by Conor Burns
I refer the hon Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar to the answer I gave to the hon Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston on 26 February, UIN: 18647.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the carcass balance of poultry meat is maintained as part of trade negotiations with China after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The UK is committed to working with China to improve market access and strengthen the trade relationship, including for trade of poultry meat. We recognise that there are clear potential benefits to carcass balance of poultry meat from trading with China. However, we are still unable to export live poultry, due to a ban which China imposed following outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) that occurred in the UK in poultry from 2014-2017.
We have achieved a number of positive steps towards lifting the ban, and once the ban is lifted, we can progress to resuming live exports of poultry which was an open export market prior to the implementation of the ban.
Following re-opening of pre-existing trade, we can then undertake the longer process of opening a brand-new market for the poultry sector, namely poultry meat exports, which would add additionally opportunities for industry to benefit from carcass balance in the future.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on shellfish exports of the UK leaving the EU (a) without and (b) with a deal; and what plans he has for trade in this sector after the end of any transition period.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The UK is seeking a deep and special economic partnership with the EU to ensure no tariffs, fees, charges or quantitative restrictions across all sectors, encompassing the best possible deal for the seafood sector, including for shellfish. The best way to ensure stability and continuity is through the Government’s Withdrawal Agreement.
We are working with countries across the world to explore the best ways to develop our trade relationships, including free trade agreements, to ensure that Britain becomes a global leader in free trade once we leave the EU. This will provide greater market access for UK products, including the UK fish and shellfish sectors.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many countries have informed his Department that they would like to have trade deals with the UK after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK has met with a wide range of countries to discuss various aspects of our trading relationship. Whilst we are still members of the EU, the UK cannot negotiate and conclude free trade agreements.
The Department for International Trade is currently engaging with all countries with which the EU has trade agreements, to discuss continuity of current trading arrangements as the UK leaves the EU. The Department has also announced a number of working groups with whom there is no EU deal in place, including the US, China, Australia, Japan and New Zealand.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what target her Department has set for the level of higher education exports in the next five years; and what steps her Department plans to take to meet that target.
Answered by Mark Garnier
A target to increase the value of exports across the education sector to £30bn by 2020 was set by the previous government. The target is rightly ambitious and the Department for International Trade (DIT) remains committed to working with the rest of government and the sector to drive progress towards achieving it.
The Government actively promotes study in the UK through the GREAT Campaign and through the British Council, which promotes the UK in over 100 countries. There continues to be no limit to the number of overseas students who can come here to study, and the UK is second only to the USA in terms of our market share.
This Government continues to support growth in UK education exports, including through the work of the team dedicated to education exports in DIT. I have recently announced the establishment of a DIT Education Sector Advisory Group, chaired by myself, which will support the aspirations of the sector internationally. The inaugural meeting is scheduled for December.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what representations he has received from which countries on their seeking future trade deals with the UK.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As the Government has set out in the Department for International Trade’s (DIT) White Paper, ‘Preparing for our future UK trade policy’, DIT is engaging with a broad range of partners about future trading options, including new Free Trade Agreements. The Government will aim – through Working Groups, Joint Trade Reviews and other discussions – to improve trading relations and remove barriers affecting UK businesses.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what role he expects the Government to play in helping UK firms to grow internationally after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Mark Garnier
The Department for International Trade already has a network of 177 posts across 108 countries both inside and outside the EU, and provides firms with practical and financial assistance to help them succeed when exporting or expanding globally. UK Export Finance’s recently launched enhanced overseas investment insurance can also protect UK firms investing abroad. As we leave the EU, we will continue to help firms across the UK grow, and benefit from the export and investment opportunities in new and existing markets.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans he has to support UK companies to gain Government contracts and increase the presence in international markets after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Mark Garnier
The Department for International Trade already has a network of 177 posts across 108 countries, and provides firms with practical support and financial assistance to help them succeed when exporting or expanding globally. UK Export Finance’s recently launched enhanced overseas investment insurance can also protect UK firms investing abroad. As we leave the EU, we will continue to help firms from across the UK to grow and benefit from the export and investment opportunities in new and existing markets.
The UK intends to become an independent member of the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) once we leave the EU, which will give UK companies guaranteed access to Government contracts overseas. The GPA provides procurement opportunities estimated to be worth over £1.3 trillion annually.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans the Government has to bring forward a schedule of commitments on trade in IT equipment to be agreed with new trading partners after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In pursuing technical rectification of UK tariff schedules at the World Trade Organization (WTO), we aim to replicate as far as possible our current obligations; this includes commitments under the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) of 1996, and the ITA expansion declaration of 2015.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when he plans to publish the findings of his Department's review of the UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The National Contact Point (NCP) is currently considering the findings of the review. In line with the terms of reference, the key findings will be published on the NCP website later this year following consultation with the NCP Steering Board.