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 plans his Department has to develop trade links with countries outside the EU in the next five years.
Answered by George Hollingbery
Half of the UK’s trade is already with the rest of the world, outside of the EU, and it is important for the future of the UK, that we look to where the growing parts of the world economy are, such as Asia.
The Government is preparing for an ambitious programme of trade negotiations and enhanced market access, including potentially opening a series of formal negotiations for new free trade agreements with the United States, Australia and New Zealand; and scoping possible UK accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). We have completed 14-week long public consultations on each of these three potential future trade agreement negotiations and on the UK’s possible accession to the CPTPP.
While we are looking to forge new agreements, the Government is also seeking continuity for our existing EU free trade agreements as we leave the European Union. These give us the platform to build and strengthen our already-successful trading relationships with existing countries.
In addition, we are building stronger relationships with large economies – such as China, India, and Brazil – through a series of Joint Trade Reviews.
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 discuss with the devolved administrations the way in which future trade deals will apply to different parts of the UK.
Answered by George Hollingbery
As set out in our Trade White Paper, we are committed to working closely with the devolved administrations on their role in future trade agreements and have ongoing discussions, at both Ministerial and Official level, to ensure that we have a trade policy which works for the whole of the UK.
Although it is currently not possible to engage with Northern Irish Ministers, DIT Officials continue to engage with officials in both the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Civil Service, in the same way they do for Scotland and Wales.
For example, our Second Permanent Secretary recently visited Belfast where he chaired a business roundtable on future trade agreements ensuring that Northern Ireland’s interests are accounted for.
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 the Government has entered into new trade discussions with the Saudi Arabian authorities since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Answered by Graham Stuart
UK Ministers have not entered into any new trade discussions with Saudi Arabia since the 2nd October 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 estimate his Department has made of the change in the volume of UK trade with non-EU countries in each year between 2013 and 2017.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Estimates of the change in the volume of UK trade with non-EU countries in each year between 2013 and 2017 are available from the Office for National Statistics at:
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 plans he has to ensure that each nation and region can take advantage of the opportunities for trade and inward investment after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Mark Garnier
The Department for International Trade (DIT) already promotes trade and investment in support of all regions and nations of the UK. In 2016/17, Northern Ireland secured 34 foreign direct investment projects, creating 1,622 jobs and safeguarding 950 more, and DIT will continue to work closely with the Devolved Administrations to support businesses across the UK.
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 Government assistance has been offered to businesses to take advantage of the lower pound in exporting products.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for International Trade offers a wide range of business support. The Department provides International Trade Advisors across the UK, who give advice to companies wishing to start exporting or grow their exports. We also provide access to the wealth of information held by our overseas post network in over 100 locations in over 50 countries. Furthermore, the Department also offers a range of Digital Services including the Exporting is GREAT website, which I would encourage all British Businesses to visit.