This month's updates from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)
► UK-EU trade & economic partnership: Shevaun Haviland, BCC Director General, and William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, met with EU Ambassadors and officials from 22 Embassies and the EU Mission to discuss proposals for closer UK-EU trade and economic ties. Read the press release.
► UK-EU Trade Relations: BCC met with Paymaster-General Nick Thomas-Symonds MP and Clive Jones MP, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Trade, to discuss improving UK-EU trade and engagement with key global markets, including the US, Canada, and Asia-Pacific.
► EU Regulatory Developments: William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, engaged with DBT’s EU Unit on key business concerns, including the General Product Safety Regulation, new EU small business compliance legislation, and the upcoming UK-EU summit in May. The Cabinet Office is seeking input from businesses on priority areas for trade improvements ahead of the UK-EU leaders' summit on 19 May. Contact William Bain to share member perspectives.
► Increase in UK defence spending and new trade opportunities: The Prime Minister committed to raising defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. With defence budgets increasing across Europe, new procurement and trade opportunities will emerge for UK businesses.
► UK Single Trade Window (STW): BCC took part in a Cabinet Office roundtable to discuss future phases of the UK Single Trade Window, which aims to streamline trade processes.
► UK and India resume trade negotiations: Trade talks between the UK and India restarted, with Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds MP, meeting his counterpart in New Delhi. The BCC supports a balanced agreement that reduces tariffs, improves market access for services, and increases investment between the two nations.
► India Trade Talks: BCC Director General, Shevaun Haviland, met with the Indian High Commissioner to discuss bilateral trade, investment, and ongoing UK-India trade negotiations.
► UK-Japan Industrial Policy: Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs Secretary of State, David Lammy, met with their Japanese counterparts in Tokyo, outlining shared industrial policy priorities. The BCC recently met with the Japanese Ambassador and will continue to engage on these plans.
► Asia-Pacific Engagement: BCC participated in the UK-ASEAN Business Forum, exploring new opportunities for UK businesses and investors in the Asia-Pacific region.