Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to encourage fair trade in agricultural produce.
Answered by Conor Burns
The UK government is committed to free and fair trade and using trade to promote global development and poverty reduction. Fair trade plays an important role in helping producers around the world improve their lives and making agricultural practices more sustainable.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions she has had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Conor Burns
We are excited to resume work with our counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive. Despite the short time since its restoration, my Rt. Hon Friend the Minister of State for Trade Policy (Conor Burns), has proactively engaged with the Hon Member the Minister for the Economy of Northern Ireland (Dianne Dodds MEP). Minister Dodds participated in the Ministerial Forum for Trade discussion on 23 January 2020, along with Ministers from Scotland and Wales. This forum brings Ministers together from the Department for International Trade and the devolved administrations to discuss trade policy.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans he has to use the historical connection between Northern Ireland and the US for (a) tourism and (b) trade benefits.
Answered by Conor Burns
The USA is one of Northern Ireland’s largest non-EU trading partners and tourism markets, and the UK Government works closely with Invest Northern Ireland to support exporters and to promote Northern Ireland as a great place to visit, invest and do business.
Trade is just one way in which we can strengthen that deep and historic relationship as the UK leaves the EU. HMG has committed to a substantial programme of engagement on the UK’s future trade policy with the Northern Ireland Civil Service, to ensure that it reflects the needs and ambitions of the whole of the UK.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to protect whiskey distillers in Northern Ireland from the imposition of tariffs after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Conor Burns
The UK government recognises the vital role of the whiskey industry in Northern Ireland and are mindful of the potential impact of any current and future tariffs. In response to the current US tariffs on Irish Single Malt Whiskey, the UK government is working closely with the EU and US to support a negotiated settlement to the Airbus and Boeing disputes.
The UK government is committed to the long-term promotion of UK business interests on the international stage. We have had extensive engagement with the US administration on the issue of tariffs and continue to work closely with the EU, US and other WTO Members, to ensure our collective prosperity after the UK has left the EU.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans the Government has to support ceramic producers to increase exports after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department for International Trade (DIT) will support the ceramics sector as we develop the UK’s future trade policy, helping companies to maximise opportunities within markets around the world.
Ceramic companies can utilise DIT products and services to grow their businesses further. Support ranges from DIT missions and webinars, personalised advice from a local International Trade Adviser, and an online tool to find optimum online marketplaces for showcasing products internationally. Companies can also apply for grants to visit overseas trade shows.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what guidance his Department issues to foreign companies planning to invest in the UK.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department for International Trade (DIT) plays a critical role in promoting the UK as the natural choice for overseas investment. The Department provides support to inward investors who wish to set up in the UK.
These services range from providing information, guidance and support on the UK business environment, to access to finance, talent and skills, visas and migration, research and innovation, and sector experts.
DIT also provides an end-to-end service for investors, through initiatives such as the Strategic Relationship Management Programme, both in the UK and overseas, working with colleagues across government, in London, UK regions and Devolved Administrations. This suite of services helps investors prosper and succeed, which in turn leads them to reinvest further in the UK. The UK has the highest stock of FDI of any nation in Europe.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with his Kenyan counterpart on increasing trade with that country.
Answered by Conor Burns
The UK enjoys a strong trade and investment relationship with Kenya. In September I discussed bilateral trade with His Excellency Manoah Esipisu the Kenyan High Commissioner to the UK. Ahead of our exit from the EU, the UK intends to maintain duty-free, quota-free access for Kenya’s exports to the UK market.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on supporting businesses in Northern Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Conor Burns
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with his (a) Chinese and (b) Indian counterpart on a trade deal after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The UK is preparing to strengthen its trade ties with international partners, including China and India post EU-exit.
In January 2018, the UK and China launched a Joint Trade and Investment Review to explore options to enhance their trade and investment relationship, without pre-judging outcomes. My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade visited China five times in 2018 to discuss our ambition for a strong trade partnership.
The UK-India Joint Trade Review, announced during the Prime Minister’s visit to India in 2016, has helped us better understand the UK-India trade relationship. In April 2018, both Prime Ministers agreed to forge a new trade partnership, to take forward recommendations from the Review. This work is being progressed through the Joint Working Group on trade which has met eight times since November 2016.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the role of the UK's tech sector in attracting foreign direct investment.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Tech Nation 2019 report, states that the UK attracts more VC tech investment than anywhere else in Europe, with £6.3 billion raised in 2018.
During London Tech Week, June 2019, DIT hosted 20 delegations from our international Posts consisting of 600 innovative tech companies keen to invest and scale up in the UK and secured £1.2 billion of new FDI announcements creating 850 new jobs.
Through the AI Sector Deal, this government is actively supporting the development of talent, nationwide, ensuring that this position is strengthened and investment in AI, exceeding £3.8 billion, continues to grow.