Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to decrease the UK’s trade deficit after Brexit.

The Government is committed to supporting UK exports. International trade is beneficial to economic growth and is important to achieving long term prosperity and welfare. The Government has a range of policies, in particular the Industrial Strategy, to enable UK firms to compete in global markets.

The Export Strategy, launched in August 2018, sets out how the Government will enable UK businesses to take advantage of international demand for UK goods and services. This support, including impartial export advice from International Trade Advisors and our overseas network in markets across the world, has contributed to the continuing growth in UK exports which increased by 4% to a record high of £647.1 billion in the 12 months to May 2019.