The UK Government is preparing for the upcoming UK-EU summit on 19 May, with a renewed focus on strengthening its trade relationship with the EU. However, while the UK’s core ambitions remain to enhance close business and trade ties, the mounting geopolitical tensions and  growing emphasis on security and defence cooperation, adds a new layer of urgency to these discussions.

In this session, the UK Trade and Business Commission met to hear from experts who can outline what the UK Government can do to support the agriculture and fishing industries post-Brexit.

This session of the UK Trade and Business Commission analysed the EU Retained Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill. As part of the session, the Commission interrogated the legislation and its implications - both in terms of business and trade and in terms of the UK’s constitution.

The UK Trade and Business Commission has taken evidence on several occasions on how staff shortages in the wake of Brexit are impacting different sectors of our economy. Ahead of summer recess, the Commission held this live evidence session to further understand these impacts and other aspects of the post-Brexit landscape.

Following reports that the UK Governments was planning to unilaterally revise parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, this live panel saw the Commission’s Co-convener Hilary Benn MP, Irish politician Neale Richmond and former Conservative MP David Gauke discuss the diplomatic and economic implications for the UK if it takes unilateral action.

Co-Convenors of the UK Trade and Business Commission Hilary Benn MP and Peter Norris led a delegation to Kent on Monday 16th May.

The UK government had announced the completion of two entirely new Free Trade Agreements, with Australia and New Zealand by the time of this meeting, and there has been the suggestion it may complete others including joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

On 1st January 2022 exports between Great Britain and the European Union became subject to new import checks and wider customs controls as part of a staged control of new measures resulting from Brexit . These changes focus on both import and export checks and there are also temporary arrangements for movements from Ireland. Further changes were due to be introduced in July 2022.

The Commission’s first annual report was published on the 11th March 2022 and it proposed 21 concrete interventions, aimed at improving cooperation and trade between the UK and its closest neighbours.

In this special evidence session, members of the UK Trade and Business Commission visited Belfast for its first in-person meeting. This meeting focused on the operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, hearing from representatives of the Northern Ireland business community about their experiences of operations since it came into force, interactions with those negotiating and implementing arrangements, and views on what needs to change.

Led by Peter Norris and Hilary Benn, the UK Trade and Business Commission’s delegation landed early on the morning of Thursday 3rd March 2021.

The UK is a major manufacturing power in the world, with particular strengths in cars, engineering products and aerospace among others. That these no longer employ such large numbers predominantly reflects higher productivity, and has been seen in all developed countries.

The session looked at the trading situation under the NI Protocol at the time of the meeting, the benefits and disadvantages, and the proposals for change from the UK and EU. We then examined the implications of further future courses of action, including the use of Article 16.

This live panel reflected on the work of the UK Trade and Business Commission during 2021 before looking ahead to the Future of Trade in 2022.

Globally the main barriers to trade are no longer tariffs but differing regulations between countries. Exporters have to meet the varying requirements in different countries, which is likely to mean extra costs. However, countries may choose to vary regulations for many good domestic reasons, such as responding to consumer pressures or reduce the cost of domestic production. Finding a balance is difficult for all countries. For the UK, having just left the EU regulatory bloc, it presents a particular challenge.

The UK is a services trade superpower and the second largest exporter in the world at the time of this session. Its strengths are diverse, from educating international students to hosting film production, financing major infrastructure to supplying architects and skilled engineers to turn a plan to reality. These are delivered by companies of all sizes, including major multinationals, historic institutions like universities, small consultancy firms, and the self-employed.

This session of the Trade and Business Commission looked at the transition to a green economy, and the role of trade policy in this ahead of the COP26 summit in Glasgow, as these topics saw growing domestic and international attention.

Trade agreements are negotiated by national governments, though topics covered are likely to include those for which responsibility lies with devolved authorities. This is an issue faced across the world given that those topics extend far beyond tariff reduction and can see regulations bound by treaty. In the UK devolved government responsibilities affected are likely to include agriculture, services provision such as professional qualifications, and public procurement, but many more such as Scotland’s minimum alcohol pricing could be an issue.

This session of the UK Trade and Business Commission saw witnesses give evidence on the UK-EU’s relationship, and the performance of UK ministers, negotiators, and diplomats.

The UK's supply lines faced severe strain towards the end of Summer 2021 with KFC, Nando’s, Greggs, and McDonalds being among the major chains that were affected, with products unavailable and some branches unable to open. Supermarkets also had stock and supply chain challenges. Staff shortages were being reported in haulage and food production and while these issues were being reported in other countries, the UK seemed to be worst affected.