Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, for what reasons the UK decided to take part in the negotiations relating to the Trade in Services Agreement.

The UK Government recognises the importance of trade to delivering long term growth and jobs. The Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) is the first negotiation to focus solely on trade in services, an area of key UK competitive advantage. As the second largest exporter of services, with 6.5% of global trade, the UK is a strong supporter of the TiSA. Independent analysis shows that an ambitious agreement could add as much as £2-3 billion annually to the UK economy in the long-term.