Foreign Policy: Support for UK Businesses in Global Trade

Debate between Earl of Courtown and Baroness Neville-Rolfe

Tuesday 14th November 2017 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con)]

My Lords, we know that companies that export are more productive and generally more successful than others. Can my noble friend comment on the pace and direction of exports?

[The Earl of Courtown]

My Lords, exports rose by 5.9% between 2015 and 2016 to £547 billion, reflecting increases in exports of both goods and services. In percentage terms, the largest increases in UK exports between 2015 and 2016 were to New Zealand, Sweden, Turkey, Japan and Egypt. The UK’s five largest trading partners remain the US, Germany, the Netherlands, France and China.