Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 22858 on Trade Agreements, how goods produced in Northern Ireland using inputs that entered Great Britain under the terms of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and were, when moved to Northern Ireland, deemed under the Windsor Framework to be at risk of entering the Republic of Ireland, will be subject to cumulation in relation to those inputs in the context of the relevant rules of origin for onward sale.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
CPTPP originating inputs imported to Great Britain under CPTPP (from a country which has ratified UK accession) and moved to Northern Ireland retain their originating status, even if deemed at risk of entering the European Union under the Windsor Framework, as long as the inputs remain in the UK. Northern Ireland businesses may be able to cumulate these inputs in their goods exported under CPTPP to a country which has ratified UK accession, potentially helping them to meet the Rules of Origin.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what comparative assessment he has made of the potential impact of the (a) EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences on businesses importing into Northern Ireland and (b) UK Generalised Scheme of Preferences on business importing into Great Britain.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) replaced the UK Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) in 2023. Like the EU GSP, the DCTS incentivises trade with developing countries, to reduce poverty, and to provide cheaper imports for UK and European businesses and consumers. They are two of the most generous schemes of their kind.
Importers can claim UK DCTS preferential tariffs in Northern Ireland, provided the goods are not 'at risk' of entering the EU. Where the EU tariff is charged waivers and reimbursements are available.
His Majesty’s Government has not conducted a comparative assessment of the impacts of these Schemes.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2024 to Question 14407 on Trade Agreements, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the (a) Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and (b) Windsor Framework on the ability of Northern Ireland companies to access inputs through that Agreement which allow cumulation in Northern Ireland within relevant Rules of Origin for onward sale.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
On Rules of Origin, CPTPP gives Northern Ireland companies the ability to cumulate materials from other CPTPP countries, in their exports to CPTPP countries, in the same way as any other part of the UK. Goods moving into Northern Ireland, including under CPTPP, are able to access UK tariffs preferences, subject to the ‘at risk’ criteria. The Windsor Framework does not affect exports from Northern Ireland, or Rules of Origin for exports.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of trade deals negotiated since 2020 on economic growth in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Department of Business and Trade (DBT) does not hold an aggregated value for the impact of the signed trade deals on the UK’s nations and regions. Instead, the Department publishes individual Impact Assessments (IAs) for new free trade agreements (FTAs) which set out the potential economic impacts on the UKs nations and regions. These show that all English regions and UK nations are expected to benefit from the new FTAs signed with Japan, Australia, New Zealand and CPTPP.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) eBay and (b) other sellers based in Great Britain turning off their seller accounts to Northern Ireland because of the costs of compliance with the General Product Safety Regulations 2023 on consumers in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Our assessment of the impact of the updated GPSR remains that it largely formalises how businesses are operating in the UK and that where businesses need to make changes, in most cases, they will be adapting to continue trading with the EU. The measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. We are providing guidance which we will keep under review as we continue to engage businesses – including online marketplaces – to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with (a) eBay and (b) other online sellers on the potential impact of the General Product Safety Regulations 2023 on the ability of consumers in Northern Ireland to continue to buy goods from Great Britain.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
My fellow ministers and I undertake regular engagement with businesses, including online marketplaces and those who sell products online, to listen to their concerns.
In addition, officials in my Department have regular discussions with business representatives, including online marketplaces and businesses that sell products online, on a range of issues, including the impact of the EU’s new General Product Safety Regulations. This engagement allows businesses to raise specific issues directly with the Government.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) eBay and (b) other sellers based in England, Wales and Scotland turning off their seller accounts to Northern Ireland because of the costs of having to comply with the General Product Safety Regulations 2023 on (i) the supply of goods and (ii) price levels in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Our assessment of the impact of the updated GPSR remains that it largely formalises how businesses are operating in the UK and that where businesses need to make changes, in most cases, they will be adapting to continue trading with the EU. The measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. We are providing guidance which we will keep under review as we continue to engage businesses – including online marketplaces – to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of (a) eBay and (b) other sellers based in England, Wales and Scotland turning off their seller accounts to Northern Ireland because of the costs for compliance with the General Product Safety Regulations 2023.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Our assessment of the impact of the updated GPSR remains that it largely formalises how businesses are operating in the UK and that where businesses need to make changes, in most cases, they will be adapting to continue trading with the EU. The measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. We are providing guidance which we will keep under review as we continue to engage businesses – including online marketplaces – to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will make an estimate of the potential (a) direct cost to (i) producers, (ii) retailers and (iii) consumers in Northern Ireland and (b) economic impact to Great Britain of compliance with the General Product Safety Regulations 2023.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Our assessment of the impact of the updated GPSR remains that it largely formalises how businesses are operating in the UK and that where businesses need to make changes, in most cases, they will be adapting to continue trading with the EU. The measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. We are providing guidance which we will keep under review as we continue to engage businesses – including online marketplaces – to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the tariff level applied to imported electric buses on local production; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of raising that tariff.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
In setting tariffs, the Government takes into account the interests of UK consumers, producers, productivity, competitiveness, and external trade, as well as wider considerations such as strategic trade objectives.
As with all policy, the Government welcomes feedback and monitors these requests closely. Feedback can be submitted on specific tariff lines via the UKGT feedback form available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tariffs-on-goods-imported-into-the-uk.