Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of new trade agreements on manufacturing exports.

The Department publishes analysis to assess the potential impacts of new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in advance of negotiations. On conclusion of negotiations, the Department publishes full impact assessments. The analysis in these publications covers a number of areas, including the potential impacts on the UK’s regions and nations as well as on sectors, such as manufacturing. I am glad to say that the recently concluded FTA with the GCC aligns closely with our Industrial Strategy and confidently expect it will lead to increased manufacturing exports.