TRADE UPDATES FROM THE BRITISH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
This month's updates from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)
► The new Product Safety and Metrology Bill announced by the government will provide certainty for businesses in terms of usage of CE marking and also create a process for managing future regulation around trade in regulated goods.
► The BCC took part in a meeting of the mobility sub-group of the Domestic Advisory Group with other industry groups, ahead of the next plenary meetings in September.
► The BCC took part in a meeting with other business organisations on how the UK-EU relationship can be improved in terms of policy around mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
► The BCC were quoted in the government press release on the priority trade negotiations for the new government. We were also briefed by DBT’s Director-General for Trade Negotiations on likely next steps and how businesses will be kept up to date as negotiations resume in the autumn.
► Ministerial responsibilities within the new Department for Business and Trade team have now been allocated with the Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP as Minister of State for trade policy issues (including WTO), alongside supply chains and economic security. Gareth Thomas MP will be the Minister for exports alongside his small business portfolio. The BCC hope to meet the new Ministers at their earliest convenience.
► The new government committed to a key BCC trade policy ask in an announcement by Ministers. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade (DBT), Jonathan Reynolds MP, committed to restart trade negotiations with these priority partners: India, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkiye, Gulf Co-operation Council states, and Israel. Completing the trade negotiations pipeline was a key ask in our Future of the Economy Manifesto. Ministers have also committed to publishing a trade strategy linking with the government’s forthcoming industrial strategy.
► The BCC took part in a meeting with a delegation from His Majesty’s Trade Commissioners. They briefed them on latest research and insights from members and discussed priority growth markets for goods and services exports.
► The BCC spoke to the National Audit Office on the best approaches to deliver effective support for export growth.
► The BCC took part in a meeting of the mobility sub-group of the Domestic Advisory Group with other industry groups, ahead of the next plenary meetings in September.
► The BCC took part in a meeting with other business organisations on how the UK-EU relationship can be improved in terms of policy around mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
► The BCC were quoted in the government press release on the priority trade negotiations for the new government. We were also briefed by DBT’s Director-General for Trade Negotiations on likely next steps and how businesses will be kept up to date as negotiations resume in the autumn.
► Ministerial responsibilities within the new Department for Business and Trade team have now been allocated with the Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP as Minister of State for trade policy issues (including WTO), alongside supply chains and economic security. Gareth Thomas MP will be the Minister for exports alongside his small business portfolio. The BCC hope to meet the new Ministers at their earliest convenience.
► The new government committed to a key BCC trade policy ask in an announcement by Ministers. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade (DBT), Jonathan Reynolds MP, committed to restart trade negotiations with these priority partners: India, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkiye, Gulf Co-operation Council states, and Israel. Completing the trade negotiations pipeline was a key ask in our Future of the Economy Manifesto. Ministers have also committed to publishing a trade strategy linking with the government’s forthcoming industrial strategy.
► The BCC took part in a meeting with a delegation from His Majesty’s Trade Commissioners. They briefed them on latest research and insights from members and discussed priority growth markets for goods and services exports.
► The BCC spoke to the National Audit Office on the best approaches to deliver effective support for export growth.