Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Trade Strategy

Thursday 5 March 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK exports reached a record high of 689 billion, up 5% from 2018.
  • The government launched a new business support campaign to help businesses of all sizes increase exports.
  • The Minister acknowledged the importance of considering human rights when engaging in trade with regimes that may have issues in this area.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sam Tarry
Business & Trade
Context

No specific incident or context is mentioned, but the question focuses on a broad assessment of trade strategy effectiveness.

Question

What recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Government's trade strategy?

Answer from Graham Stuart

UK exports are at a record high, with the latest figures showing exports of £689 billion—up 5% on 2018. We are committed to doing even more, building on the measures in our export strategy. Just last month, we launched a new business support campaign, helping businesses of all sizes to fulfil their exporting potential.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer provides general statistics but does not directly address an assessment or critique of the trade strategy's effectiveness.

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Q2 Sam Tarry
Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

Residents of Ilford South are concerned about sectarian violence and the impact on human rights in Commonwealth countries. The MP is seeking reassurance that the Government's trade strategy promotes human rights abroad.

Question

Over the last few weeks, the good residents of Ilford South have been writing to me in greater and greater numbers because they are concerned about the sectarian violence we are seeing in some of our Commonwealth partners in certain regions of the world. Can the Minister reassure me and the residents of Ilford South by telling us what steps he will take to ensure that the Government's trade strategy always promotes human rights abroad and does not embolden or reward regimes or Governments who oppress communities that are a minority in number?

Answer from Graham Stuart

The hon. Gentleman is quite right to highlight the issue of trade's role in parts of the world where human rights are being breached. Right across the Department, we seek to ensure that all such considerations are taken into account, while recognising the need to engage with regimes that may have less than perfect Governments, for the benefit of the people there. It is a balance that we take very seriously, and I look forward to further discussion with him to get it right.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer acknowledges the issue but does not provide specific steps or commitments.

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Q3 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The MP is looking for lessons that can be learned regarding the UK's trade strategy based on Japan's negotiations with the EU.

Question

There are lessons for our strategy arising from Japan's rather unsatisfactory negotiations with the EU, are there not?

Answer from Graham Stuart

We could look at Japan, or we could look at Mercosur, which took 20 years of negotiation. Some say that the UK shorn of the heft of the EU will be less able to do deals. There are ways in which that would be true, but fundamentally, with agility, as many countries have shown, we can do more deals more quickly and, most importantly, bring greater prosperity, employment and opportunity to my right hon. Friend's constituents and mine as a result of the UK having its own independent trade policy for the first time in 40-odd years.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer discusses broader agility and potential benefits but does not address Japan's negotiations directly.

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