A new survey of more than 3,000 firms released by the Department for Business and Trade today found that three out five now think that free trade deals will have no impact on their business, including half of all firms exporting.

The Prime Minister has been told to urgently clarify government advice to manufacturers after an announcement by the Department for Business and Trade has caused even greater uncertainty on what markings they are required to use on their products.

As recommended by the UK Trade and Business Commission, the Government has indefinitely delayed plans to introduce a new UK product safety mark.

Today the Irish government confirmed that they will provide permanent funding to allow students in Northern Ireland to access the Erasmus+ scheme.

Today the ONS confirmed that in the year to June 2023, inflation in the UK was 7.9%, remaining the highest of any G7 economy.

Responding to the signing of a new UK-EU memorandum of understanding for greater cooperation on financial services, Hilary Benn MP, Co-convenor of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

The UK Trade and Business Commissions has published a comprehensive assessment of the state of UK trade containing 114 recommendations to remove barriers to growth and prepare the UK economy for the challenges and opportunities of the next decade.

Queens University Belfast has published new polling, which indicates a strong majority of voters in Northern Ireland support the Windsor Framework.

This week, the UK Trade and Business Commission sent a letter to the Government urging them to restart negotiations for the UK to rejoin the EU’s Horizon Europe research programme without delay.

Hilary Benn MP, Co-convenor of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

“This agreement, for which our Commission has long advocated, shows what can be achieved by putting aside old disagreements and working in good faith to provide stability and certainty.

Rocket Entertainment Group CEO and filmmaker David Furnish has warned that lost opportunities and increased red tape are threatening the future of creative industries as new analysis suggests that the UK arts and film industries may have missed out on nearly €200m in EU funding.

Official figures show that since 2015 the cost of construction materials in the UK increased by around 60% compared to 35% in the EU. Over the same period the cost of construction workers in the UK increased by around a third between while Denmark and the Netherlands saw less than half the UK increase.

In a UK first, an economy-wide consultation has been launched to gather evidence on the biggest issues facing all industries in the post-Brexit landscape and as the UK Government negotiates new trade agreements.

Responding to the new British Chambers of Commerce report, Hilary Benn MP co-convenor of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

Responding to new LSE research which suggests that Brexit has added £210 to the average annual food bill since 2020, Hilary Benn MP, Co-Convenor of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said:

Legal experts and industry representatives have said that the Government’s EU Retained Law Bill will leave businesses, consumers and civil servants scrambling to understand and deal with the impact of the mass scrapping of legislation, putting worker, health and environmental protections at risk.

Responding to an ESRI report published today, citing that UK-EU exports are down 16% and imports to the UK from the EU are down 20% compared to anticipated levels of trade growth for EU members since the start of 2021, Virgin Group chair and Co-Convenor of the UK Trade and Business Commission Peter Norris said,

Responding to a new CBI survey which suggests that around three quarters of business have been impacted by labour shortages, Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon and member of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said,

US Congressman and member of the influential Ways and Means Committee Brendan Boyle (Dem) has today slammed Liz Truss’ Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, claiming it would be a violation of international law opposed by the White house and both parties of Congress.