This month's updates from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) 

► Formal Trade Strategy Submission: The BCC submitted its input on the UK government’s Trade Strategy. Nearly 70 Chambers and companies joined their policy roundtable addressed by our Director-General. 

► Policy Change Proposals Discussed: The BCC met senior officials from the Department for Business and Trade to propose changes to the UK-EU preferential rules of origin and explore export support initiatives. 

► November Exports Remain Weak: New ONS data shows UK exports were subdued in November 2024. Read the BCC's response and call for action on improving export performance. 

► Responding to the latest GDP data released by the ONS: Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Confirmation that the economy grew slightly in Q4 is a small bit of relief for businesses in challenging times. However, regardless of the headline data, it's clear that many firms faced a chill of uncertainty in the final months of last year." Read the full article here.

► Product Regulation and Metrology Bill progress: DBT officials briefed the BCC on the progress of the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill in the House of Lords. This legislation will empower Ministers to align UK goods regulations with EU standards where appropriate.

► UK-Gulf Trade Negotiations Update: The BCC received a briefing on progress in trade negotiations between the UK and the six Gulf Co-operation Council states, including discussions on intellectual property provisions in a potential free trade agreement.

► Boosting UK-EU Supply Chain Flexibility: The BCC joined the (UK-EU) Domestic Advisory Group subgroup meetings, engaging with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and business stakeholders on trade and customs. They continue to push for UK re-entry into the Pan-Euro Mediterranean (PEM) Convention to enhance supply chain flexibility for UK firms.

► UK Internal Market Consultation: The UK government is consulting on the operation of UK Internal Market legislation, with submissions open until Thursday 3 April. The BCC will be responding - please contact William Bain with any input.

► Shevaun Haviland at UKEF Conference: BCC Director General, Shevaun Haviland, spoke at the UK Export Finance (UKEF) annual conference, highlighting the role of trade finance in supporting exporters. The event, attended by Minister for Exports, Gareth Thomas MP, and over 1,000 business leaders, reinforced the importance of accessible finance for UK businesses.

► Trade Survey and Policy Discussions: The BCC met with Cabinet Office and Treasury officials to discuss insights from our Trade Survey and recommendations on improving UK-EU trade.

► UK-Japan trade meeting: Shevaun Haviland and William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, met Japan’s Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki in London. Discussions covered industrial strategy, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Osaka Expo 2025, and closer UK-Japan business cooperation.

► UK trade data 2024: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released final UK trade data for 2024:

• Services: Strong export growth recorded.
• Goods: Exports declined.

► Blog: William Bain on UK trade in 2025: BCC’s Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, discusses the UK’s trade outlook for 2025 and the evolving global trade landscape. Read the blog.

► New US Tariff Proposals Would Hit UK Economy Reacting to the proposals for new reciprocal tariffs outlined by the US Government, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy. Read more here.