Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade press release entitled Businesses set to be protected from Argentinian economic coercion, published on 13 October 2026, what assessment he has made of whether the proposed secondary legislation will provide sufficient protection for UK businesses with commercial interests in Argentina.

The Government has announced its intention to introduce measures under the Protection of Trading Interests (PTI) legislation as part of the UK’s response to Argentine measures targeting lawful commercial activity linked to the Falkland Islands. PTI will provide additional protection for UK businesses against attempts to compel compliance with specified Argentine measures applied outside Argentina’s jurisdiction, including by providing legal grounds for UK persons to seek recovery of damages arising from their application.

The Government is prepared to use the tools available to defend lawful British commercial activity, and will continue to consider appropriate measures, consistent with our legal framework and wider policy objectives, as needed. BIST Ministers and officials are aware of a number of companies affected by recent Argentine actions, and have engaged closely with them to understand their concerns and demonstrate Government support. BIST will continue to engage affected businesses and monitor the effectiveness of the UK’s response.