Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK and Sweden: Trade and Business Relationships

Thursday 15 April 2021 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department is working to improve trade and business relationships between the UK and Sweden through the DIT team in Stockholm.
  • Recent report by the Swedish chamber of commerce for the UK indicates that nearly 40% of Swedish businesses are optimistic about business growth in the UK.
  • UK and Sweden agreed to co-host a bilateral trade and business forum later in the year to develop links further.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Bowie Con West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Business & Trade
Context

Sweden is a key trading partner of the UK, especially in sectors such as technology, financial services, defence, and clean energy. A recent report by the Swedish chamber of commerce for the UK indicates optimism among businesses about growth opportunities.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to improve trade and business relationships between the UK and Sweden?

Answer from Greg Hands

Sweden is a close ally of the UK on trade policy and a close partner in our day-to-day trading relationship. Through the DIT team in Stockholm, efforts are made to promote trade and investment between the UK and Sweden.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps beyond general promotion activities were not detailed.

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Q2 Andrew Bowie Con West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

A recent report by the Swedish chamber of commerce for the UK suggests that almost 40% of Swedish businesses are optimistic about business growth in the UK, with 70% seeing it as a key step in international expansion.

Question

According to a recent report by the Swedish chamber of commerce for the UK, almost 40% of Swedish businesses are optimistic about business growth in the UK and 70% continue to see the UK as an important step in international expansion. Does he agree that developing links with this greatest Scandinavian country, which shares our values and our growing economy, would be good for the UK, good for jobs and good for developing relations with our partners in the European Union?

Answer from Greg Hands

My hon. Friend's work as chairman of the British-Swedish all-party parliamentary group and mention of the Swedish chamber of commerce for the UK are noted. In a recent call with Swedish Trade Minister Anna Hallberg, we agreed to co-host a bilateral trade and business forum later this year. We have excellent trade cooperation in sectors such as technology, financial services, defence, and clean energy.

Answered
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