Secretary of State for International Trade, Rt Hon MP, will appear before the
International Trade Committee on Wednesday 1 November. The session
will examine the Department for International Trade's overall
strategy for developing an independent trade policy, as well as the
Department’s progress on its objectives since the election.
A primary role of the Department is to strike new trade deals
across the globe. With formal talks on free trade agreements yet
to begin, the Committee will investigate how the Department plans
to prioritise these deals, and what it has achieved so far in its
discussions to scope new agreements.
As a member of the EU, the UK is also currently party to free
trade agreements with 60 non-member countries. Ministers have
indicated that these will ‘roll over’ and that achieving this is
one of their top priorities. The session will consider how close
the Department is to securing its aim and what practical
obstacles stand in its way.
In addition to understanding the work being done to open up new
markets for UK businesses, the Committee will examine the quality
of support provided to UK businesses to exploit export
opportunities. How do initiatives such as the GREAT campaign help
companies of all sizes to find new markets?
Wednesday 1 November
Committee Room 6, House of Commons
From 10.00am:
- Rt Hon MP, Secretary of State for
International Trade and President of the Board of Trade
-
, Permanent Secretary,
Department for International Trade
- Crawford Falconer, Second Permanent Secretary and Chief Trade
Negotiation Adviser, Department for International Trade
