Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps he has taken to encourage trade between Commonwealth countries.

The UK is committed to working with Commonwealth partners and institutions to further strengthen intra-Commonwealth trade and investment. For example, at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the Foreign Secretary announced UK funding for the Commonwealth Standards Network (CSN) and the Commonwealth Investment Network (CIN).

The CSN reduces barriers to trade across the Commonwealth by supporting members to meet international standards and thus increase their access to international markets.

The CIN supports small and vulnerable members access investment opportunities through knowledge exchange, capacity building and facilitating relationships with private sector stakeholder groups.