Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps are being taken to (a) reduce reliance on China for the manufacture of system-critical components for UK national infrastructure projects and (b) source those components instead from members of The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The Integrated Review identifies ‘strengthening supply chain resilience of critical goods and raw materials” as one of nine areas for action to deliver the government’s ambitions on the Indo-Pacific tilt. Ensuring the resilience of critical global supply chains is a central part of our deeper, longer-term diplomatic engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.
Membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership could help diversify our supply chains and increase our economic resilience by deepening our trading links across the region.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when the UK will join The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
On 28th September, the UK took the next step on the pathway to membership of this important and growing trading group, kicking off the first round of talks with officials from all Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) member countries. This has been followed by technical discussions on a range of areas including e-commerce and procurement. The UK has an ambitious timeline for UK accession to CPTPP and hopes to conclude negotiations by the end of 2022.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether he plans to increase the number of dedicated agriculture counsellors promoting UK agricultural exports.
Answered by Graham Stuart
We are considering how we might expand our overseas support for agriculture, food and drink exporters, in line with the recommendations of the Trade and Agriculture Commission and will publish a response to the Commission accordingly.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many dedicated agricultural counsellors are working in British Embassies abroad to promote British agricultural products.
Answered by Graham Stuart
There are dedicated agriculture counsellors based in China and the UAE as well as a team of trade promotion staff serving UK food and drink in 119 markets worldwide.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help businesses to continue exporting to the EU.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department for International Trade (DIT) provides support for businesses to understand the changes in trade with the EU via its Transition Period Enquiry Unit. Members can direct their companies to this service here - https://www.great.gov.uk/transition-period/contact/.
DIT is also developing a refreshed Export Strategy to ensure firms can take advantage of new market opportunities through better support, better incentives, and a better business environment. DIT will raise the exporting culture of the UK, take advantage of our new independent trade policy, and target our market share in the world’s fastest growing economies.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of UK exports.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Before the pandemic hit, global trade was already in trouble. Nine out of the top ten exporting countries – including China, Japan, Germany, and the USA – all saw their exports fall in 2019 (according to UNCTAD data). The one exception to this was the United Kingdom, which overtook France to become the world’s fifth largest exporter. Our exports increased by 4.2% to £689.3bn in 2019. Latest figures show that UK exports in the 12 months to September 2020 were £624.8bn, down 7.7% on same period last year.
Sources: ‘UNCTAD Goods and Services (BPM6): Exports and imports of goods and services, annual’ and ‘ONS Balance of Payments UK, July to September 2020’.