Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if the Government will make an assessment of the effect of the rules of origin provisions in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement on critical mineral supply chains for downstream original equipment manufacturers based in the UK.

As we set out in our Integrated Review last month, our priority actions include, “to diversify the UK’s supply in critical goods, such as medical equipment and rare earth elements, through trade partnerships and international collaboration… Within the UK, we will continue to explore opportunities around domestic extraction and processing of critical minerals, such as lithium, as well as their recovery, recycling and reuse to establish a viable circular economy".

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU came into effect on 1 January 2021. Original equipment manufacturers across a range of sectors have welcomed the deal, and the Government worked closely with industry before and during the negotiation to develop tailored rules of origin.

For example, critical mineral supply chains are important for the electric vehicle supply chain. Provisions on rules of origin include a transitional period for electrified vehicles and batteries, which allows manufacturers flexibility to meet rules of origin requirements while local supply chains develop.