Scottish businesses and members of the public have the
opportunity to shape Britain’s post-Brexit trade policy.
International Trade Minister will today (Wednesday 5
September) urge people across Scotland to take part in four
consultations on the UK’s future trading relationships during a
meeting with businesses in Edinburgh.
Exports of goods to countries to the US, Australia, New Zealand
and the Trans Pacific Partnership countries were worth £6 billion
for Scotland last year and accounted for £1 in every £5 of
Scottish goods exports.
It is crucial that the Scottish people have their say about how
the UK should capitalise on new opportunities to forge trading
relationships with the rest of the world as we leave the European
Union.
As part of this process, the Minister will today open a
roundtable event in Edinburgh in partnership with the Scottish
Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) to seek the views of
Scottish businesses, business groups and NGOs.
Trade Policy Minister said:
“For the first time in over 40 years we will be able to determine
the terms of our trade. That means new trade agreements with our
key partners, as well as putting the UK at the heart of the
world’s fastest growing regions such as Asia.
“We are committed to forging new trading relationships that
create jobs, boost our vital industries and benefit consumers
across the whole of the UK. I am delighted to visit Edinburgh
today, urging people across Scotland to seize the opportunities
in front of them and make their voices heard. So please
visit consultations.trade.gov.uk to
take part.
“Now is the time for everyone to get around the table to have a
constructive debate that put the needs of the Scottish people
first.”
Matt Lancashire, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at
SCDI, said:
“SCDI welcomes the opportunity to facilitate this important
consultation between the Minister for Trade Policy and our
members on Future Trade Agreements.
“It is important that Scottish businesses and civic organisations
have the opportunity to input into UK trade priorities for key
markets, to support inclusive economic growth across
Scotland.
“We will be encouraging our wider membership and key stakeholders
to respond to the online consultations to ensure their views are
heard.”
Martin Bell, Deputy Director for Trade at the Scotch
Whisky Association said:
“Accounting for a fifth of all UK food and drink exports, the
Scotch Whisky industry welcomes the opportunity to share our
priorities for future UK trade negotiations with these key
trading partners.
“We also believe that the UK potentially joining CPTPP would give
Scottish exporters access to the benefits of a high quality,
‘state of the art’ trade agreement covering 11 growing
economies.
“Commitment to open markets is particularly important at a time
when the jobs and growth that Scotch has delivered through trade
liberalisation over many years are coming under threat.”
Today’s roundtable is the first of 12 consultation roundtables
held throughout the UK to seeks views from interested parties as
we deliver an approach that works for the whole of the UK.
Members of the public can submit their views as part of the
online consultations which are open until 26 October and last for
a total of 14 weeks, which is two weeks longer than the European
Union’s consultations on new free trade agreements.
Exports of Scottish goods last year were worth £28.7 billion and
grew faster than the rest of the UK, up by 19% on 2016. The
export of Scottish services was worth an additional £15.7 billion
in 2015, the latest year in which data is available.
More than one fifth of Scottish goods exports – £6 billion worth
– are covered by the consultations, with the USA being Scotland’s
second biggest market accounting for 12% (£3.4 billion) of goods
by value and the CPTPP countries accounting for a further 9%
(£2.6 billion) of goods by value.
ENDS
Notes to editors
• The consultations on the UK’s future
trading relationships with the USA, Australia, New Zealand and
the CPTPP can be completed online until 26 October: consultations.trade.gov.uk
• The Scottish Council for Development and
Industry (SCDI) is Scotland’s Economic and Social Forum. They are
an independent membership network representing a cross-section of
the private, public and social economy sectors with an aim of
influencing the agenda to ensure long-term sustainable economic
growth and flourishing communities, everywhere in
Scotland. www.scdi.org.uk;
@SCDInews
