Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of banning the import of all luxury goods containing raw materials sourced from Russia following that country's invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
In lockstep with our allies, we are introducing the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever faced. This includes the ban on exporting certain luxury goods in the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No.8) Regulations 2022, laid on 14th April.
We do not speculate on future sanctions.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent assessment her department has made of the potential merits of sanctioning the importation of (a) precious and semi precious stones, gold and silver and (b) products using these materials from (i) Russia and (ii) third party countries where those raw materials were imported from Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
In coordination with our allies, we are introducing the largest and most severe economic sanctions that Russia has ever faced. We do not speculate on future sanctions.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of stopping the trade of Russian precious rare metals and minerals, including (a) platinum and (b) palladium from Russian sources, into the UK, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by Mike Freer
The Department for International Trade is working with the whole of government to assess the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the supply of critical materials to the UK.
Our measures are designed to maximise pressure on Putin and the elites who support his illegal invasion of Ukraine while minimising the impact on the UK, but my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has been clear that we must do whatever possible to protect European security.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if her Department will assess all UK trade in (a) goods and (b) services with (i) individuals, (ii) organisations and (iii) businesses based in Russia which could create any revenue for the Russian government.
Answered by Mike Freer
In lockstep with our allies, we have announced the strongest set of economic sanctions ever imposed against a major economy, which will help cripple Putin’s war machine. The UK has targeted the political elite, cut off Russian banks from the UK, and introduced restrictive trade measures.
As part of this work, we have published trade sanction impact assessments, which are available on GOV.UK: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/195/impacts.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of revoking preferential trading partner status from a) Russia and (b) Belarus.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The UK has announced a range of economic sanctions against Russia and Belarus, including denying both countries access to Most Favoured Nation tariffs for hundreds of their exports. £900 million of imported goods from Russia and Belarus will now face an additional 35 percent tariff.
We will continue to explore the full range of economic, diplomatic, and political options in co-operation with partners.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions she has had with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on taking steps to potentially exclude Russia from the WTO until they withdraw fully from Ukraine.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
At the WTO, the Government has condemned the actions of the Russian Federation and shown solidarity with the Government and people of Ukraine. We are working closely with like-minded partners to take steps to marginalise Russia and to deprive the Russian government of the benefits of WTO membership.
We are aware that discussions are taking place about the possible mechanisms to expel Russia from the WTO. We will continue to explore with allies the full range of economic, diplomatic, and political options.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of making representations at the World Trade Organisation for a vote on the suspension of Belarus from that organisation in respect of its continuing material support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Belarus is not a member of the World Trade Organization. Accession talks were suspended following the rigged election and fraudulent inauguration of Alexander Lukashenko in 2020. Belarussian complicity in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is incompatible with the respect for the rules-based order that is a precondition for WTO membership. This issue has been discussed with partners within the WTO.