10 UK Export News You Might’ve Missed – Week 10
(This newsletter is also published on LinkedIn)
In this edition of Export News from Expordite, we’ll cover top 10 UK export news and headlines from week 10 of 2023 – March 6-12.
General Export Updates
1. NO UK TRADE BOOST TO START 2023
“Trade values for goods (excluding inflation) fell in January, with imports down 9.3% on December and goods exports down 1.8%.
Services export values were down by 0.6% on the previous month, once inflationary effects were removed. Over the past 12 months, the volume of UK exported goods has been relatively flat.
There was a fall in goods export values to the EU of 4.2% (driven by lower fuels, chemicals and material manufactured goods exports). This was only partially offset by a rise in goods export values to the rest of the world by 0.9% (largely in higher chemicals exports to the US and pharmaceutical exports to South Korea).”
Source: British Chambers of Commerce
2. UK and Canada sign agreement to boost green tech supply chains
“The UK and Canada have agreed a landmark agreement to co-operate on critical minerals such as cobalt and lithium that are essential to the economy and used in almost all modern and green technologies, from solar panels to electric vehicles.
Canada is the UK’s 13th largest export partner, with UK companies exporting £14.1 billion worth of goods and services to Canada in the 12 months to September 2022. Canada represents a large opportunity for UK mining and engineering firms, with the country currently producing 60 minerals and metals at 200 mines and 6,500 quarries.”
Source: GOV.uk
3. Ministers meet North Wales exporters
“Wales Office Minister James Davies and Business and Trade Minister Nigel Huddleston have visited businesses across North Wales to hear about how they export their goods and services and to highlight how they can seize the benefits of the UK’s trade deals with Australia and New Zealand, once they are in force.
The UK’s landmark trade deals with Australia and New Zealand are comprehensive, modern agreements that will remove tariffs on all UK goods exported to Australia and New Zealand, making local businesses across Wales more competitive in both markets.
The deals are due to come into force this year and could boost the Welsh economy by £75 million.”
Source: GOV.uk
4. British Businesses to Save Billions Under New UK Version of GDPR
“New data laws to cut down pointless paperwork for businesses and reduce annoying cookie pops-up are being introduced by the government today in Parliament.
Today’s data reforms are expected to unlock £4.7 billion in savings for the UK economy over the next 10 years and maintain the UK’s internationally renowned data protection standards so businesses can continue to trade freely with global partners, including the EU.”
Source: GOV.uk
5. New initiative launched in Teesside to ‘accelerate digital transformation of trade’ for MSMEs
“A new hub has been launched in Teesside to “accelerate the digital transformation of trade” in the region, particularly for MSMEs (micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises).
According to the ICC, the new centre is “led by industry and supported by government” and its core mission is to “accelerate the digitalisation of UK trade, the implementation of open systems based on common international standards and a digital trade system that is paperless, sustainable and secure.”
Source: IOE&IT
6. Region leads UK-first trade and cultural mission to US business hub
“A high profile leadership team from Greater Manchester headed to the USA today (March 9) to promote trade, tourism and investment opportunities.
Mayor Andy Burnham and Greater Manchester Economy Lead Cllr Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, jetted to Raleigh, North Carolina, in partnership with the Government as part of a mission which is the first of its kind since the UK agreed a new economic pact with North Carolina.
In July 2022 the UK Government signed a trade and economic MoU with North Carolina. Following a similar agreement with Indiana, the MoU aims to streamline trade and investment between UK and North Carolinian businesses, and lay a framework for increased cooperation in areas including clean tech and energy infrastructure.”
Source: The Business Desk for North West
7. IOE&IT and UKAS sign MOU to drive compliance and provide digital solutions on conformity standards
“The UK’s leading international trade and accreditation organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together to raise awareness and understanding around conformity assessments and standards.
A key focus of the partnership will be supporting companies to adapt to new requirements around using the new UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) mark, which replaces the EU’s CE mark following Brexit.
The UKCA mark can already be used for goods traded in the UK and the government’s intention is for it to eventually replace the EU’s CE mark. Both marks are used to verify that manufactured goods meet the safety standards of their respective markets.”
Source: IOE&IT
Food Export News
8. Pork export opportunities to Japan on the rise
“Japan is proving to be an important market for red meat exports and this week we are returning for one of Asia’s largest food and drinks exhibitions, Foodex Japan.
The four-day show in Tokyo starts on 7 March and is expected to attract around 3,000 exhibitors and thousands of buyers from across Japan.
“Japan is a growing market for our pork exports, steadily rising each year as demand for our high-quality meat continues to grow. We are keen to maximise on the opportunities that Japan offers and help our exporters grow their business through face-to-face meetings with importers and networking opportunities that AHDB has created.”
Jonathan Eckley
Source: AHDB
9. Badenoch’s Brexit deal with Saudi Arabia offering £6m boost for UK’s honey producers
“Kemi Badenoch is putting the bee in to Brexit by unveiling a series of trade wins for Britain including a £6million “sweetener” for the nation’s honey producers. International Trade Secretary – and former Tory leadership contender – Ms Badenoch made her announcement as the third round of talks for a UK-Gulf Cooperation Council free trade deal kicks off in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh today.
The Department of Business and Trade is leading a first-of-its-kind trade mission to Dubai intended to boost opportunities for women-led businesses, as well as two more trade missions to Saudi Arabia to drive exports for UK education and sports companies.
Meanwhile, the Government has secured a major export win for UK honey producers by removing a trade barrier which blocked the export of honey to Saudi Arabia.
Over the course of the next five years, the move will be worth £6 million to UK businesses.”
Source: Express.co.uk
10. New EU arsenic rules catch Northern Ireland between Brussels and London
“New EU rules slashing the amount of arsenic permitted in baby food have highlighted how Northern Ireland is caught between different rules set by Brussels and London, despite this month’s new post-Brexit trading agreement.
Days after UK and EU leaders sealed their deal last week, Brussels cut the level of the carcinogenic substance allowed in infant formula and baby food by 80 per cent and set limits for its use in rice, fruit juice and salt.
But consumers in Northern Ireland can still buy baby food with higher levels of arsenic if the ingredients or the finished product are imported from Great Britain.”
Source: FT
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