Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to increase trade with European countries.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Europe remains a vital export destination for British businesses, exporting £344.6 billion in the year to June 2022, up 16% in current prices on the previous year.
My department has around 300 trade experts across Europe, charged with resolving market access barriers, encouraging investment and promoting UK exports. Our refreshed Export Strategy launched last November to help businesses at every stage of exporting and will continue to help drive exports to Europe. It is a front door for businesses who require support adapting to changes following the UK’s departure from the EU.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her department is taking to increase the transparency of export costs.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We recognise the barriers small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face to exporting: our most recent National Survey of Registered Businesses (NSRB) highlights that companies’ lack of knowledge, capacity and awareness of opportunities represent real market failures which prevent SMEs from exporting. The Department for International Trade does not ask businesses to respond to the survey to assess and report the actual costs involved.
The 12-point plan for exports aims to address these barriers and is centred around the Export Support Service (ESS) which provides a single point of entry for businesses who export or wish to do so.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her department is taking to increase export opportunities for businesses in (a) Preston, (b) in the North West region and (c) England.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for International Trade (DIT) offers a tailored service to businesses in Preston and the North West via our dedicated Northern Powerhouse team that offers support and expertise to meet the export needs of SMEs and larger businesses at a local level. Our offices in Leeds, Manchester, and Darlington, help drive growth and prosperity through export and investment, and provide a range of upskilling services to businesses including the export academy and export champion programmes. DIT’s Trade Advisor Service gives exporters outside the capital and Southeast the tools, support, and opportunities to succeed in global trade.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help improve the UK-EU trading relationship.
Answered by Conor Burns
I am pleased to note that goods exported to the EU in the 12 months ending July 2022 were worth £178 billion. An increase of £27 billion (18%) on the previous 12 months and now higher than goods exported in 2018, so trade values are increasing.
To further increase exports, we need to get more British businesses exporting for the first time, including through initiatives such as the Export Academy and our Export Champions, giving exporters the knowledge and practical help that they need.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions she has had with trade partners on the Government’s decision to extend steel import tariffs until mid-2024.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Department has so far held discussions with Brazil, the EU, Switzerland and Japan. These discussions have included giving an overview of the UK trade remedies legislation and answering questions on how this relates to the extension of the safeguard measure.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to findings of the statistical release from the Office for National Statistics published on 31 May 2022 of a higher level of quarter-on-quarter GDP growth for Northern Ireland than for the other countries of the UK, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of Northern Ireland’s continued access to barrier-free trade with the EU on the relative performance of Northern Ireland's economy.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Department for International Trade (DIT) has not made an assessment of the performance of Northern Ireland’s economy as DIT does not lead on sub-national economic growth. Also, DIT is not responsible for the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and its impact on the UK and nations and regions of the UK.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with her counterparts in (a) Europe, (b) the Middle East and (c) Asia on procurement of the (i) Eurofighter Typhoon and (ii) other defence aircraft which were designed and manufactured in the UK.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
I refer the Hon. Member for Preston to the answer given by my Hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Defence Procurement on 1 July 2022, UIN: 25739.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in (a) India, (b) the US, (c) South Africa and (d) the EU on an agreed draft deal for a time limited waiver on covid-19 vaccine manufacture ahead of the World Trade Organisation’s 12th Ministerial Conference from 12 to 15 June 2022.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Membership reached a consensus-based decision on the TRIPS Agreement at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), held between 12 and 17 June 2022. The Decision, which has a five-year duration and is limited to COVID-19 vaccines, streamlines compulsory licencing processes for developing countries. The UK engaged constructively in the discussions with the wider WTO Membership, including India, the US, South Africa and the EU, demonstrating flexibility to help broker consensus.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if the Government will take steps to support the time limited waiver on covid-19 vaccine manufacture in the global south ahead of the World Trade Organisation’s 12th Ministerial Conference from 12 to 15 June 2022.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Membership reached a consensus-based decision on the TRIPS Agreement at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), held between 12 and 17 June 2022. The Decision, which has a five-year duration and is limited to COVID-19 vaccines, streamlines compulsory licencing processes for developing countries. The UK engaged constructively in the discussions with the wider WTO Membership, including India, the US, South Africa and the EU, demonstrating flexibility to help broker consensus.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she has had recent discussions on potential aerospace trade with (a) the UK Aerospace Industry and (b) her international counterparts in countries with which the UK seeks future trade deals.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Aerospace sector is a critical part of our economy and great example of the exporting potential of the UK, having exported £24.3bn of goods and services in 2020, over 97% of total production.
The Secretary of State and the DIT ministerial team has regular engagement with several aerospace companies to help boost their exports and secure vital foreign investment into the sector.
The aerospace sector is governed by bi-lateral and multilateral agreements that facilitate low and zero tariffs on the trade in aircraft goods, but the sector can also benefit from provisions in FTAs, for example digital and innovation.
Leveraging our extensive overseas network, Ministers are constantly looking for opportunities for British companies, including those in the Aerospace sector.