Topical Questions 2022-04-21

2022-04-21

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Context
The UK has imposed sanctions on Russia, raising tariffs by 35% on Russian goods worth £900 million in trade.
If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. As part of the UK's leadership on sanctions against the Putin regime, we have raised tariffs by 35% on hundreds of Russian goods worth £900 million in trade. By the end of 2022, the UK will end all dependency on Russian coal and oil.
As part of the UK's leadership on sanctions against the Putin regime, we have raised tariffs by 35% on hundreds of Russian goods worth £900 million in trade. By the end of 2022, the UK will end all dependency on Russian coal and oil, and end imports of gas as soon as possible.
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Q2 Direct Answer
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The south-west of England is known for its food and drink, particularly cider, which supports around 12,000 jobs.
What steps are the Government taking to help our drinks industry get their products on shelves across the globe? The south-west is known for not only its food but also its wonderful drink. Thousands of acres of orchards across the west country produce some of the world's best cider, supporting around 12,000 jobs.
We are striving for tariff-free drinks exports through our FTAs, and the Prime Minister promoted that when he hosted a food and drink showcase in Downing Street last November. We are opening new markets and extending our network of 100 overseas food and drink advisers by recruiting eight new specialist agriculture attachés.
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Q3 Partial Answer
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The Government has suspended all tariffs and quotas on trade between the UK and Ukraine to support Ukrainian businesses.
Will the Government commit to updating that agreement to make the scrapping of tariffs and quotas not just a temporary measure but a permanent one to support the Ukraine's recovery from this appalling illegal invasion in the years ahead? The political, free trade and strategic partnership agreement between the UK and Ukraine was signed back in 2020.
We are continuing to work very closely with our Ukrainian counterparts, and after questions the Minister for Trade Policy, my right hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth North (Penny Mordaunt), will meet the business group to continue those discussions and ensure that we are both targeting in the short term and thinking about long-term ways in which we can support Ukraine and help it recover from this illegal invasion.
Assessment & feedback
Commitment to updating agreement for permanent tariff-free trading
Continuing To Work Closely Discussions And Ensuring
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Q4 Partial Answer
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The Government has suspended all tariffs and quotas on trade between the UK and Ukraine to support Ukrainian businesses.
Will the Secretary of State set an urgent date to bring a permanent arrangement into effect to give desperately needed certainty to Ukrainian businesses? Having any trade restrictions back in place will only cause further problems for Ukraine's economic recovery. Any permanent, updated trading arrangement with Ukraine will be supported by Labour.
As I said, we are continuing to work very closely with our Ukrainian counterparts, and after questions the Minister for Trade Policy, my right hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth North (Penny Mordaunt), will meet the business group to continue those discussions and ensure that we are both targeting in the short term and thinking about long-term ways in which we can support Ukraine and help it recover from this illegal invasion.
Assessment & feedback
Setting an urgent date for permanent trading agreement
Continuing To Work Closely Discussions And Ensuring
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Q5 Partial Answer
Context
UK exports to Ethiopia were up 7.2% in the previous year, showing a positive trend.
Will the Minister keep the dialogue going with the Ethiopian Government? That will help our businesses and may help to bring the conflict to an end. In spite of the ongoing conflict in Tigray, a number of businesses have contacted me to say that they want to increase the amount of business that they do in Ethiopia.
I completely agree with my hon. Friend. UK exports to that country were up 7.2% on the previous year. He will know that recently we have had a UK-led consortium committing $8 billion of investment into telecoms, which will significantly increase growth and jobs and help the digital economy in that country.
Assessment & feedback
Commitment to maintain dialogue with Ethiopian Government
Completely Agree Significantly Increase
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Q6 Partial Answer
Christine Jardine Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Context
There are reports of a $2 billion increase in India's trade with Russia, raising questions about the implications for the UK-India relationship and sanctions on Russia.
What implications does that have for our relationship with India and for our sanctions on Russia? Will that be taken into account in the Prime Minister's dealings? Will he be putting pressure on India to sanction Russia? This morning, much has been made of our links with Ukraine, and that comes at a time when the Prime Minister is in India for trade talks. We also hear reports of a $2 billion increase in India's trade with Russia.
I am really pleased that the Prime Minister is able to be in India today and tomorrow to discuss broad matters of trade and to support the Department's work to bring together a really comprehensive trade deal with India in the months ahead. He is also there to discuss the international situation. He has a good relationship with Prime Minister Modi, and I know that he will discuss all these issues.
Assessment & feedback
Specific implications of increased trade between India and Russia for UK-India relations
Discussing Broad Matters Of Trade Discuss The International Situation
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Q7 Direct Answer
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Cornwall has significant export potential, particularly in its produce. Recent discussions highlight the need to utilise international trade agreements effectively.
Across the Tamar, Cornwall is famous for its exceptional produce. What additional help has the Department given to firms from Cornwall so that they can make the best possible use of international trade deals?
Locally based trade advisers, as well as support through the UK export academy, can help businesses such as Cornwall's Ideal Foods take advantage of all free trade agreements. Cornwall's very own tea grower and producer, Tregothnan, will benefit from tariffs being removed on all UK food and drink exports to Australia.
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Q8 Partial Answer
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Chile is a significant export market for the UK with total trade in goods and services valued at £26.5 billion.
Figures indicate that Chile is the UK's 60th largest export market. Will the Secretary of State update the House on the work being undertaken to create an updated and bespoke trade deal with Chile? As chair of the all-party parliamentary group for Chile, I hope that the group can meet the Department to support that work.
It is always a pleasure to meet the hon. Lady. I am happy to confirm that we are committed to bulldozing trade barriers. I am pleased that Chile has been able to approve British pork producers exporting into a market that is worth over £200 million as part of our total trade in goods and services of £26.5 billion.
Assessment & feedback
Specific progress on an updated UK-Chile trade deal was not provided, only general commitment to bulldozing trade barriers and mentioning pork exports.
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Q9 Direct Answer
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The Gulf Co-operation Council nations form a significant trading partner for the UK with total trade standing at over £31 billion.
The Gulf states are an important trading zone for businesses based in Warrington South, particularly given the excellent links through Manchester Airport to the Gulf. What progress is my hon. Friend making in developing trade and investment links between the UK and the Gulf Co-operation Council?
The six GCC nations form together one of our largest trading partners, with total trade standing at over £31 billion in the four quarters to September last year. In January, we completed a public consultation in support of a trade deal with the GCC that gets the best deal for British businesses and consumers. We aim to start those negotiations with others later this year.
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Q10 Partial Answer
Grahame Morris Lab
Easington
Context
Vivarail showcased its battery trains at COP26, highlighting the potential for export orders.
Vivarail showcased its world-beating, self-charging battery trains to delegates at COP26 in Glasgow. What steps is the Minister taking to promote UK manufacturing, especially green manufacturing, and win export orders for excellent businesses such as Vivarail, which is located in my constituency?
We are always looking for companies we can showcase. We can sell companies such as Vivarail around the world. Whenever we talk to our partners abroad on bilateral agreements looking for investment in green and renewable energy, including on transportation, we will always do our best to push forward expert companies such as the one the hon. Gentleman mentioned.
Assessment & feedback
Specific steps taken to promote UK green manufacturing exports were not detailed.
Response accuracy
Q11 Direct Answer
Context
The UK is currently in discussions with multiple US states for bilateral trade deals.
States in the USA such as Texas and California have a larger GDP than many European nations. Aside from the UK-US trade negotiations, will the Minister say what progress is being made on trade deals between the UK and individual states in the USA?
We are making considerable progress on that. We are in discussions with around 20 US states. I have just returned from Texas, which if it were a country in its own right would be the seventh largest economy in the world. We are going to do a state-level agreement with Texas, we hope, by October this year.
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Q12 Partial Answer
Chi Onwurah Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Context
During a British-American Parliamentary Group visit, it was stressed that any US-UK trade deal would have to be worker-centric.
During the recent British-American Parliamentary Group trade and security delegation to the US, we received the unequivocal message that any US-UK trade deal would have to be worker-centric. We also heard that the Secretary of State had said during the Baltimore dialogues that levelling up was the British equivalent of worker-centric and that therefore any levelled-up trade deal would have workers at its heart. Can she confirm whether that is the case and, if so, how she will ensure a worker voice at every trade meeting and discussion?
The Baltimore dialogues—the first of our trade dialogues, held just a few weeks ago—was exactly that: a gathering together of voices from across businesses, industry councils and trade union groups from both sides of the Atlantic. It was an incredibly constructive discussion.
Assessment & feedback
Specific confirmation on worker-centric approach in UK-US trade deals was not provided.
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Q13 Partial Answer
Context
The global surge in energy prices highlights the need for inward investment in green energy generation and related trade.
The global surge in energy prices has highlighted the importance of securing both inward investment in green energy generation in the UK and related trading partnerships. Will my hon. Friend set out what the Government are doing to accelerate both those things?
We are driving unprecedented investment in green industries, with the British energy security strategy announcing further cuts to the red tape that hampers growth in some of these sectors. My noble Friend Lord Grimstone is leading our new Office for Investment, and I am delighted that our friends across the Gulf are as keen as we are to back innovation in this area.
Assessment & feedback
Specific actions accelerating inward investment and trade partnerships were not detailed.
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Q14 Direct Answer
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The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs previously stated that food and welfare standards would be maintained under UK trade deals.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in 2019—now the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities—insisted to the public that food and welfare standards would be maintained under UK trade deals struck after Brexit. Indeed, the Prime Minister has said so frequently, but the Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency is reported as saying yesterday that he wants to see food regulations slashed. Who is right?
We have always been crystal clear that our food safety, animal welfare and environmental standards are not for sale.
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Q15 Direct Answer
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The MP is seeking an update on progress regarding the UK's joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This relates to opening up new markets, stability, and defense in the region.
Can we have an update on our joining the trans-Pacific partnership? That is important not only because of the growing markets, but because of the international challenges, stability and defence in the region.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right; we have reached a major milestone on that accession process by moving to market access negotiations with that trade bloc. In addition to opening up a new market, this will also help us on such matters as maritime security and meeting the goals of the integrated review.
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