UK-EU Trade: Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Debate

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Department: Department for Business and Trade

UK-EU Trade: Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Excerpts
Wednesday 31st January 2024

(3 months, 2 weeks ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Offord of Garvel Portrait Lord Offord of Garvel (Con)
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I thank the noble Lord. As I said yesterday, Europe remains a massive part of our trade—41% with the EU 27 and 48% with the euro 34—and that will continue to be the case. However, the growth areas for our markets will be the US and the rest of the world. SMEs recognise that and are pivoting to the Indo-Pacific region. DBT is putting a lot of effort into helping them get there fast and profitably.

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Portrait Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con)
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Will my noble friend make sure that there is complete fairness between exports of food and agricultural products from Great Britain to the EU and those from the EU to this country? Will he update the House on the position of seed potatoes? Can we export them directly to the EU at this time?

Lord Offord of Garvel Portrait Lord Offord of Garvel (Con)
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I thank my noble friend. Seed potatoes are a specialised area so I will need to write to her on that.