MS, Cabinet Secretary for
Economy, Energy and Planning: I welcome the UK Trade Strategy,
published on 26 June, and recognise its potential to maximise
trade opportunities to support economic growth in Wales.
I am supportive of the Strategy's focus on reducing the burden on
businesses trading internationally, and its ambition to adopt a
more strategic approach to the UK's engagement with global
markets.
I am clear that removing barriers to trade and unlocking
opportunities for Welsh businesses in key export markets is
essential to boosting productivity, raising living standards, and
delivering inclusive economic growth. We have our own excellent
business support programmes, including comprehensive support for
businesses in Wales to develop their exports. Through our Export
Action Plan, we are supporting businesses across Wales to take up
exporting, build their export capability, identify new overseas
customers and get to overseas markets. We will continue to work
with the UK Government to support businesses to trade
internationally and ensure that the implementation of the
Strategy complements our support.
The Strategy must be responsive to the needs of Welsh businesses
and reflect the devolved context in which trade policy operates.
To that end, I am pleased to see the Strategy's commitment to
upgrading the UK's trade defence toolkit to confront the growing
threat of protectionism, tackling trade-distorting practices such
as dumping, with a broader and more assertive definition of
unfair trading, joining the Pan-European-Mediterranean (PEM)
Convention, and overhauling the UK's trade remedies system to
ensure it is accessible, agile and effective. I look forward to
engaging with the UK Government on this work.
I also welcome the practical support measures outlined, including
the expansion of UK Export Finance (UKEF) capacity from £60bn to
£80bn, with improved accessibility for Welsh exporters, a
modernised, digital-first export support service to simplify
guidance and improve user experience, and the piloting of Digital
Trade Corridors with leading European markets to streamline
border processes.
The Welsh Government has consistently advocated for a trade
agenda that is not only free but also fair, accountable and rules
based. I therefore support the Strategy's commitment to reviewing
the UK's approach to responsible business conduct, with a focus
on global supply chains and working with international partners
to develop ambitious plurilateral agreements that strengthen the
multilateral trading system.
The Welsh Government's approach to trade policy is underpinned by
our ambition to increase prosperity in Wales, our values, our
wider commitments to sustainability and our responsibilities
through the Well-being of Future Generations Act. This includes
growing our economy sustainably, enhancing exports and attracting
inward investment, acting as a responsible nation on the global
stage, respecting and protecting human rights, taking action to
respond to the global climate emergency and safeguarding our
valued public services.
I will continue to engage constructively with the UK Government
to ensure that the Strategy delivers for Wales and that devolved
interests are fully considered in the implementation of trade
policy, and to ensure that trade policy supports our shared goals
of sustainable economic growth, environmental stewardship, and
social justice.
