Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to respond to Question 55918, tabled by the hon. Member for Wokingham on 28 May 2025.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
A response to Question 55918 was provided on 11 June 2025: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department prepared an impact assessment on the trade agreement between the US and the UK, announced on 8 May 2025.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
We are currently implementing the first phase of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal. This deal protects almost 45% of UK goods exports to the US.
We are committed to continuing talks with the US, looking at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains. Impact assessments are completed at the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on the imposition of rare earth export restrictions.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Business and Trade is regularly engaging with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on their export controls of Critical Minerals, and DBT continues to explore ways to ensure supply to industry of these minerals is uninterrupted. HMG is committed to supporting UK businesses affected by these export controls and ensuring barriers to trade causing additional monetary and time costs are removed.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had recent discussions with the life science sector on the potential impact of China's imposition of rare earth export restrictions on that sector.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Business and Trade has been regularly engaging with businesses, across multiple sectors, that are affected by the recent export controls of rare earth elements, including with Life-sciences companies and Trade Associations. HMG is committed to supporting UK businesses affected by these export controls and ensuring barriers to trade causing additional monetary and time costs are removed.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the automotive sector on the potential impact of China's rare earth export restrictions.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Business and Trade has been regularly engaging with businesses, across multiple sectors, that are affected by the recent export controls of rare earth elements, primarily with Automotive companies and Trade Associations. HMG is committed to supporting UK businesses affected by these export controls and ensuring barriers to trade causing additional monetary and time costs are removed.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled General terms for the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Economic Prosperity Deal, published on 9 May 2025, whether he will publish a strategic approach on ongoing trade negotiations with the United States.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
On 8 May, we concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. The US has committed to further negotiations to tackle barriers to trade not related to tariffs and that have the potential to cut red tape for exporters. There will now be a process of formal negotiations with the US on a binding legal framework.
MPs will have the chance to scrutinise the treaty when it is agreed and presented to the House.
We will continue to act in Britain’s national interest – for workers, for business and for families.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled General terms for the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Economic Prosperity Deal, published on 9 May 2025, what information his Department will share with Parliament on (a) agricultural trade and (b) digital trade negotiations.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government is not seeking to change the process of the ratification of any treaty. MPs will have the chance to scrutinise the treaty when it is agreed and presented to the House. This includes detail on agricultural trade and digital trade negotiations.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing UK tariffs on US meat and seafood products on (a) levels of meat imports and (b) food standards.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK has a strong and balanced trading relationship with the US worth £315 billion. Investment supports around 2.5 million jobs across both countries. Trade is second only to the EU where our trading relationship is worth £813 billion.
We will always act in the best interests of UK businesses and consumers. That’s why, throughout the last few weeks, the government has been fully focused on negotiating an economic deal with the United States.
But we will only ever sign trade agreements which align with the UK’s national interests, and we will always uphold our high food standards.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to publish a Strategic Approach document for prospective US trade negotiations.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
As the Prime Minister said on 27 February, we’ve decided to work with the United States on a new economic deal with advanced technology at its core. We will set out more details as discussions evolve.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what (a) oversight and (b) governance procedures will prospective US-UK trade negotiations be subject to from (i) Parliament and (ii) external stakeholders.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Any treaty signed between the UK and the US that requires ratification will be subject to the scrutiny procedure under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The CRaG process requires that a treaty, along with an Explanatory Memorandum, be laid before Parliament for 21 joint sitting days before the treaty can be ratified.
The Government will engage with external stakeholders, and it will also provide comprehensive information with Parliament, including negotiating objectives, in line with our commitment to a transparent trade policy.
The Government will work with relevant select committees to ensure proper parliamentary scrutiny of any trade negotiations between the UK and the US.