Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what further overseas markets have been effectively opened up for Northern Ireland producers in the 12 months since the announcement of the Bounce Back Plan for the food, drink and agriculture industries.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department of International Trade’s (DIT) Bounce Back package and the more recently launched Open Doors campaign have supported UK businesses in accessing international opportunities, through initiatives such as our export masterclasses and virtual trade promotion events. Last year, DIT secured market access to the USA for UK beef exports for the first time in 20 years, worth an estimated £66m over five years. Northern Irish beef producers are already taking advantage of this lucrative market.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate her Department has made of the increase in trade in agri-food exports from Northern Ireland to Japan by 2024 under the terms of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government’s published impact assessment shows that every region and nation of the UK is estimated to benefit from the UK-Japan agreement compared to a situation where the UK does not have an agreement with Japan. In 2020 Northern Ireland's agri-food exports to Japan were worth £8.6 million, an increase of 33% from 2019 levels.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking with the Northern Ireland Executive to promote the Northern Ireland agri-food sector in the US following the re-commencement of UK beef exports to that country.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The resumption of market access for beef to the US marks an historic moment for our farmers and producers, with the first shipment originating from Northern Ireland on 30th September.
On 22nd June, in partnership with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for International Trade launched a Bounce Back Plan to support the food, drink and agriculture industries. The package offers initiatives to support the agri-food sector, both in Northern Ireland and across the whole of the UK, and includes support such as export masterclasses and virtual meet the buyer events. This bespoke package will further boost our trade efforts and complement new opportunities for Northern Irish companies presented by free trade agreements, such as with Japan.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to promote trade that was previously undertaken with China with Taiwan.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
China and Taiwan remain strategically important trade partners for the UK as the world recovers from Covid-19.
The Department is continuing work to identify market opportunities through its dedicated teams in Taipei and Beijing, who are ready to provide advice and support to ensure UK businesses take full advantage of emerging opportunities.
The UK also holds annual ministerial trade talks with Taiwan, and with China through the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), designed to develop our trading relationships further and improve market access.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will hold discussions on free ports with all ports in the UK which express an interest in such developments.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is in the process of engaging with a range of industry, business and academic experts across the UK to develop our future Freeport model. Specific locations for Freeports will be chosen according to a fair and transparent bidding process and we are keen to ensure that we hear from all ports who are interested in becoming a Freeport. We recognise the importance of working with the Devolved Administrations to make sure that Freeports are a UK-wide offer, not just one for English ports.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether his Department has set performance targets for the increase in bilateral trade between Canada and the UK through a comprehensive free trade agreement after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Hollingbery
Once the UK has left the EU, we will have the opportunity to consider how we may strengthen the UK-Canada trading relationship. We do not currently have performance targets linked to how that might be achieved through a new comprehensive free trade agreement, since our priority remains working with Canada and businesses to seek as smooth a transition of the existing trading relationship as possible as we leave the EU. This includes the transition of CETA into a UK-Canada agreement. My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade gave an update on the status of these discussions at the International Trade Committee on 3 July.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many companies which have a primary base in Northern Ireland have participated in overseas trade missions in 2018.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The information is not readily available/held centrally but our estimate is that at least 18 Northern Ireland companies have participated in Department for International Trade run overseas trade missions in 2018.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps the Government is taking to help companies in the UK to take advantage of the recent decision by the Chinese Government to introduce it's foreign investment law.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We welcome the direction and messages in China’s Foreign Investment Law and look forward to seeing robust regulations giving improved protection for foreign IP, technology and access to procurement.
The Government, through our overseas network, HM Trade Commissioner, and through Ministerial visits, works actively to engage with China’s central and regional governments and businesses, to support trade and reduce barriers for UK companies looking to export to and invest in China,.
For example, in the past year we have secured market access improvements benefitting a range of UK industries, including the removal of the BSE ban on British beef, raising foreign equity caps in petrol stations and improved access for British dairy. Additionally, at the China International Import Exposition (CIIE) in Shanghai in November 2018, the UK showcased the best in British innovation, gaining significant media attention in China. UK firms secured more than £2 billion of commercial deals across a range of sectors including creative industries, healthcare, education, energy, mining and aviation.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what preparations he is making for meeting with the US-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The US-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council is a bilateral forum for US and Canadian governments to identify and recommend opportunities to enhance regulatory cooperation between the two countries. The Government is continuing to meet with both the United States and Canada to discuss strengthening our trade links, including through regulatory cooperation.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many Departmental staff are working on trade policy; and what estimate he has made of the number of Departmental staff that will work on new international trade deals in 2019-20.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The Department for International Trade was created in July 2016.
Since the Department was created its Trade Policy Group has grown to around 470 people at the end of October 2018, bringing together trade policy, country specialists and experts on trade policy issues. A number of DIT staff in offshore posts are also undertaking work on market access trade policy issues.
The precise number of staff working on new free trade deals in 2019/2020 is yet to be decided.
Typically a trade negotiation will involve teams of differing sizes, depending on their complexity and would be staffed by the Department for International Trade (DIT) with the involvement of expertise from other Departments.
Other DIT staff at HQ and in overseas posts will also be involved in supporting the negotiators and for instance, handling relations with Parliament and external stakeholders.