Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department takes to monitor and assess trade lost by British businesses with EU partners due to Brexit.
Answered by Marcus Fysh
The Department has an extensive analytical function which monitors trade flows published by the Office for National Statistics. UK exports to the EU totalled 274.8 billion in the 12 months to March 2022.
The department has supported over 11,000 UK businesses to trade with Europe through the Export Support Service and, through our independent trade policy, we have opened up opportunities for UK businesses across the world. We have agreed trade deals with 71 countries and the EU, accounting for £808bn of UK trade in 2021 and including our first new deals negotiated from scratch with Australia and New Zealand.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many British businesses her Department has supported with the creation of new trading relationships outside the EU since the UK left the EU.
Answered by Marcus Fysh
Since leaving the EU, the UK has agreed trade deals with 71 non-EU countries. Our Export Strategy sets out a 12-point plan to help businesses expand their export opportunities. Our ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ marketing campaign ensures UK companies are aware of the opportunities of our independent trade policy. Export Support Service – International Markets is a new offer focused on high potential small and medium-sized enterprises, providing advice and support on entering global markets, and referral to the private sector for specialist support. Additionally, Department for International Trade teams across 180 global markets use their knowledge and relationships to open doors for UK businesses.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to support businesses which have lost trade with the EU since Brexit.
Answered by Marcus Fysh
The Export Support Service, as part of the refreshed Export Strategy launched last November, helps businesses at every stage of exporting. It is a front door for businesses who require support adapting to changes following Brexit.
Furthermore, the Department has initiatives such as the Export Academy and the Export Champions scheme that help to give businesses the knowledge and practical help that UK businesses need.
Goods exported to the EU in the 12 months to July 2022 were up 17.9% in current prices compared to the previous 12 months, whilst Services exports to the EU and non-EU increased by 8.0% in current prices during the same period.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that British manufacturers are prohibited from selling equipment to Israeli distributors to be used to demolish homes in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
For items that are subject to an export licence, HM Government takes its strategic export responsibilities seriously and will assess all export licences in accordance with the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. We will not grant a licence authorising the supply of controlled items anywhere in the world, if to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria.
We continue to monitor the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories closely, and we will take action to suspend, refuse or revoke licences – in line with the Criteria – if circumstances require.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that British manufacturers that make products for Israeli distributors are not being used to demolish homes in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
For items that are subject to an export licence, HM Government takes its strategic export responsibilities seriously and will continue to assess all export licences in accordance with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (the ‘Consolidated Criteria’).
HM Government will not grant a licence authorising the supply of controlled items anywhere in the world, if to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria, including if there is a clear risk that the items might be used for internal repression.
We continue to monitor the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories closely, and we will take action to suspend, refuse or revoke licences – in line with the Consolidated Criteria – if circumstances require.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the UK does not levy new tariffs on wine from the EU; and if she will cancel the planned extension of the requirement for VI-1 forms to EU wines at the end of the transition period.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Government intends to achieve an FTA with the EU therefore does not expect tariffs on wine, under the UK Global Tariff (UKGT) regime, to apply to EU imports.
Businesses can check what tariffs will apply after the transition period on GOV.UK, at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-tariffs-from-1-january-2021.
As referred to in answers 78691 and 78692, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 will transfer existing EU wine regulations such as these to the UK statute book. As a result, EU wines will also now become subject to the same import requirements as wine arriving from countries like Australia, USA, Chile and South Africa, which currently account for 50% of wine on UK shelves.