Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK-EU Trade

Thursday 5 September 2024 · 4 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Forty-seven percent of the United Kingdom's total trade is with the European Union, and improving trade is a central part of the Government's ambition to reset the relationship with Europe.
  • Goods exports to the European Union are still 11 percent lower than in 2019, with better performance seen in services than in goods.
  • Farmers in constituencies like Clwyd East continue to face trading barriers with the EU, and the Government is determined to tackle these issues as part of resetting the relationship with the European Union.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Becky Gittins Lab Clwyd East
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The UK's total trade is heavily dependent on the European Union, with 47% of its trade conducted with them.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to improve the UK's trading relationship with the EU. Forty-seven per cent of the United Kingdom's total trade is with the European Union, and improving trade is a central part of the Government's ambition to reset our relationship with Europe.

Answer from Douglas Alexander

Forty-seven per cent of the United Kingdom's total trade is with the European Union, and improving trade is a central part of the Government's ambition to reset our relationship with Europe. Ministers have already been engaging positively on trade issues with our EU and member state counterparts.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific steps or actions being taken by the Department.

How: Engaging Positively, Resetting Relationship

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Q2 Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

Goods exports to the European Union are still 11% lower than in 2019, before the Brexit agreement took effect.

Question

Goods exports to the European Union are still 11% lower than in 2019. Can the Minister confirm that, in seeking to grow the UK economy, the Government will take an evidence-based approach to the UK's trading relationship with our nearest neighbours, and will take all possible measures to remove the barriers to trade that are holding our country back?

Answer from Douglas Alexander

I thank my hon. Friend for her question and her observation on the character of trade in recent years. There has been better performance on services than on goods, but she is absolutely right to recognise the fall in goods trade with the European Union. Overall trade since 2018 has essentially flatlined.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not confirm an evidence-based approach or specific measures to remove barriers.

How: Better Performance On Services, Resetting Relationship

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Q3 Becky Gittins Lab Clwyd East
Brexit Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Farmers in Clwyd East continue to raise concerns about trading barriers with the EU.

Question

Farmers in Clwyd East continue to raise concerns with me about trading barriers with the EU. They feel that the current arrangements disadvantage them, and that not enough has been done since we left the EU to facilitate trade between British farmers and EU countries. Will the Minister outline what steps his Department is taking to remove those barriers and get a better deal for the farming community of Clwyd East?

Answer from Douglas Alexander

My hon. Friend is already establishing herself as a powerful voice for all constituency interests in Clwyd East. Alas, the concerns that she raises are not limited to that constituency. That is why, as part of the broader resetting of our relationship with the European Union, we are determined to tackle barriers to trade such as those she describes in relation to farmers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific steps or actions being taken by the Department.

How: Resetting Relationship

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Q4 Mike Wood Con Kingswinford and South Staffordshire
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The Secretary of State announced trade talks would begin this autumn.

Question

On the final sitting day before recess, the Secretary of State slipped out an announcement that he expected trade talks to begin with a number of countries this autumn. When can we expect the Government to publish their negotiating objectives for scrutiny by the House ahead of those talks?

Answer from Douglas Alexander

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his kind words of welcome both to this House and to the Dispatch Box. Clearly, we inherited a number of open negotiating mandates from the previous Government—not least in relation to the Gulf Co-operation Council and to India—and we are carefully reviewing those mandates.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide a timeline for publishing negotiating objectives.

How: Carefully Reviewing Mandates

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