Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
What steps her Department is taking to agree a free trade agreement with the US.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
We have made great progress in negotiations and are in an excellent position to strengthen the economic partnership between our two countries through a Free Trade Agreement. We congratulate Katherine Tai on her nomination to be appointed United States Trade Representative by the incoming administration and look forward to working with her.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to (a) promote the UK's hydrogen sector to international markets and (b) develop new export opportunities.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for International Trade (DIT) is engaging with UK suppliers from the hydrogen industry, sector specific research centres and trade associations to understand the UK’s capability across hydrogen technologies. Officials have been raising awareness of the UK’s capability to our domestic and overseas networks, to enable the promotion of the hydrogen sector and support discussions with potential buyers.
DIT undertakes a range of activities to support exports from the renewable energy sector, including in hydrogen. For example, earlier this year the Department participated in HyVolution in Paris, with a departmental representative giving a speech to attendees on UK capabilities in Hydrogen.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
What steps she is taking to facilitate trade with Saudi Arabia.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
Total exports to Saudi Arabia from the United Kingdom last year were up £1.0bn from 2018 and we want this growth to continue. My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade recently engaged with her counterpart to remove trade barriers during this difficult period, and we continue to identify ways of opening up more opportunities in the country to businesses in the United Kingdom.
My Hon. Friend for Thirsk and Malton will also be aware that we are carefully considering the implications of the Court of Appeal Judgement for export licence decision-making and are working to enable the re-taking of decisions on the correct legal basis, which I understand is a process which will have a bearing on businesses in his constituency.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
What recent assessment she has made of the extent of international trading opportunities for (a) Yorkshire and (b) other counties in rural regions.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In 2018 the value of exports from Yorkshire & the Humber was 25% higher than 2010. Rural based companies are also exporting more than before and as we leave the EU we will strike new trade deals and open new markets for UK products and services.