Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans he has to use the Board of Trade to ensure that the constituent parts of the UK benefit from UK trade policy after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Liam Fox
Establishing the Board of Trade has been one of this department’s major achievements over the last three years and it will continue to meet in all UK Nations and regions. It has representation from the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and business advisers from across the UK, and will make sure all parts of the UK benefit from the jobs and investment that come with an independent trade policy.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to encourage green investment in the UK to ensure that the UK reaches Net Zero by 2050.
Answered by Graham Stuart
DIT’s global network is dedicated to promoting green investment in the UK, such as in renewable energy, and broader low carbon growth. For example, the UK has the biggest offshore wind capacity in the world, with full participation of global investors, developers, and a growing UK supply chain. The Industrial Strategy Offshore Wind Sector Deal builds on the UK’s global leadership position in offshore wind and seeks to maximise the advantages for UK industry from the global shift to clean growth. The Sector Deal sets out a strategy to deliver 30GW of Offshore Wind energy by 2030, and supply chain investment of £250M. The Government published its Green Finance Strategy on 2 July setting out the steps it is taking to catalyse green investment in the UK and abroad.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to increase the proportion of exports linked to design; what estimate he has made of the number of businesses involved in exports linked to design; .and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The design sector is a priority for Government. Through the Creative Industries Sector Deal, Government is working with industry to increase creative industry exports – including design – by 50% by 2023.
Beyond this, DIT’s Export Strategy sets out how we will support design businesses, and others, grow sustainably through exporting. This includes through initiatives such asthe GREAT Campaign, the Tradeshow Access Programme and financial support offered by UK Export Finance.
There were 3,300 businesses in the 'Design and designer fashion' sub sector (to the nearest 100 businesses) who were exporters in 2017.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions he has had on trade and investment with the Government of China.
Answered by Graham Stuart
On 23-24 August 2018, my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade visited Beijing for the 13th UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO), this was his 4th visit to China and he will visit again in November for the China International Import Expo (CIIE). During the JETCO, he had discussions with Co-Chair Commerce Minister Zhong Shan and Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua, China’s top leader covering trade.
On this visit, he met with ministerial level contacts from China Atomic Energy Authority, the State Radio and Television Administration and General Administration of Customs, securing market access for UK products using dairy ingredients sourced from outside the UK, worth £240m over five years. Additionally, he signed a protocol allowing the export of seed potatoes to China (the world’s largest consumer of potatoes).
Total trade in goods and services between the UK and China was £65.1bn in year to end 2018 Q2, a 1.2% increase from year to end 2017 Q2.
In year to end 2018 Q2, UK exports to China amounted to £21.7bn (a 7.5% increase from year to end 2017 Q2) while UK imports from China were £43.4bn (a 1.7% decrease from year to end 2017 Q2).This means the UK reported a trade deficit with China of £21.7bn, compared to a trade deficit of £23.9bn in year to end 2017 Q2.