Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Market Access to US

Thursday 29 June 2023 · 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 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Atlantic declaration includes negotiations on a critical minerals agreement, securing tariff-free imports for UK steel and aluminium into the US.
  • The 25-year ban on UK lamb was removed, opening access to 300 million US customers.
  • The UK is cooperating with US states through memorandums of understanding to improve market access despite lack of federal free trade agreement progress.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Business & Trade
Context

The MP inquires about progress towards improving market access for UK businesses in the United States.

Question

What progress has been made on improving market access to the US. As part of their 2019 election manifesto, the Conservatives declared to the British people that they aim to have 80 per cent of UK trade covered by free trade agreements within three years, starting with the USA. However, there is a failure to negotiate an FTA, potentially locking out British businesses from new markets.

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

The Atlantic declaration includes negotiations on a critical minerals agreement, securing tariff-free imports for UK steel and aluminium into the US. The 25-year ban on UK lamb was removed, opening access to 300 million US customers, with five trade memorandums signed with individual US states in 2022.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific failure of negotiating an FTA and its consequences for British businesses were not directly addressed.

How: We Are Co-Operating Closely, Blaming The Biden Administration

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Q2 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Business & Trade
Context

The MP criticises the government's failure to negotiate an FTA with the US, as promised in their manifesto, potentially harming UK businesses' access to new markets.

Question

In 2019, the Conservatives pledged to have 80 per cent of UK trade covered by free trade agreements within three years, starting with the USA. However, there has been no progress on this front and instead blame is being placed on the Biden Administration for lack of negotiation. Will the Secretary of State admit that failing to negotiate an FTA has potentially locked out British businesses from new US markets?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

We are cooperating closely with the US as part of the Atlantic declaration. The UK's 2019 manifesto pledge was based on expectations of cooperation from the US administration, which has not materialized under current leadership.

Not addressed: The specific issue of failing to negotiate an FTA and its impact on businesses was completely avoided.

How: Cooperating Closely With The Us

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Q3 Conor Burns Con
Business & Trade
Context

The MP, as Prime Minister's trade envoy to the United States, emphasises the importance of MOUs in advancing UK-US market access and investment.

Question

Our programme of MOUs with US states is a major driver of improving market access and trade between the UK and the US. As I visit Florida to advance our objectives there, will my right hon. Friend reaffirm that we want British businesses to step up to opportunities presented by these MOUs?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

Absolutely, I can affirm that. The Opposition misrepresents the relationship with our US counterparts; many states have stepped up to negotiate MOUs despite lack of FTA negotiation at the Federal level.

Answered
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