10 UK Export News You Might’ve Missed – Week 18
(Also published on LinkedIn)
In this edition of Export News from Expordite, we’ll cover top 10 UK export news and headlines from week 18 of 2023 – May 1-7, 2023.
But first, I’d just like to say thank you to techSPARK uk for featuring Expordite on their website as one of the Silicon Gorge winners!
You can read their feature here.
Now for the UK exports news from last week:
General Export News:
1. Landmark post-Brexit trade deals to come into force this month driving economic growth across the UK.
“British businesses and consumers will soon be able to reap the benefits of the UK’s first trade deals negotiated from scratch since leaving the European Union with the agreements set to come into force this month.
Expected to increase bilateral trade with Australia by 53% and with New Zealand by 59% in the long term, the two game-changing free trade agreements are anticipated to go live across all three countries from midnight on 31 May.”
Source: GOV.uk
2. Free trade agreement between UK and New Zealand confirmed
“New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreement with the UK, which will eventually eliminate tariffs on all exports, will come into force at the end of May, marking an important milestone for the relationship between the two countries.
From 31 May, tariffs on more than 97% of exports from both countries, including wine, honey and onions, will be eradicated.”
Source: The Drinks Business
3. UK appoints new HM Trade Commissioner to lead UK-South Asia trade and investment relationship
“Harjinder Kang has today [May 3] been appointed as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) to South Asia and Deputy High Commissioner for Western India, succeeding Alan Gemmell OBE.
HMTCs lead the UK’s overseas effort to promote UK trade, investment, trade policy and export finance.
As the new Trade Commissioner for South Asia, Harjinder will generate business opportunities for the UK while contributing to the growth of sustainable, resilient, and productive economies across the South Asia region.”
Source: GOV.uk
4. Five ways the UK royal family impacts international trade
“Tomorrow (6 May) is the coronation, where King Charles III will formally be anointed as King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as head of the Commonwealth. Here, the IOE&IT Daily Updates suggests five ways that the royal family impacts international trade.”
Source: The Institute of Export & International Trade
5. New Research Suggests Wales is Top UK Nation for Exports
“The study of more than 3,000 businesses across the UK shows Wales has the largest percentage of exporters and is leading the way out of the UK nations. 87% of businesses in Wales currently export, compared to 78% of businesses in England and, 80% of businesses in Scotland.
The findings come in the wake of recent government figures showing that export trade for Wales was worth a total £115bn between 2016 and 2022. Additionally, figures show that exports of Welsh goods have recovered beyond pre-pandemic levels, rising by 36% in the 12 months leading up to September 2022.”
Source: Business News Wales
6. CUSTOMS SUPERVISED EXPORTS (CSE) – CDS MIGRATION REQUIREMENTS
“HMRC is replacing the CHIEF system with the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). All export declarations must be made on CDS by 30 November 2023. Currently, only export declarants that exclusively use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) will be able to start submitting export declarations through CDS. Most export declarants – including those that use inventory linked locations – will not be able to start submitting export declarations through CDS until September, when CDS functionality for all remaining routes becomes available.
One difference between the two systems is that on CDS you will need to include an individual reference for each CSE approved premises on your declaration. CDS also currently requires a temporary process to be followed so a declaration involving a CSE approval can be successfully submitted.
If you are looking to migrate from CHIEF to CDS before September, this document provides details of the temporary process you must follow, when making an export declaration involving a CSE approval through CDS.”
Source: BIFA
7. MESSAGE TO EXPORTERS WHO ONLY SUBMIT DECLARATIONS THROUGH GVMS LOCATIONS
“All export declarations are due to move from CHIEF to CDS by November 30th 2023. If you only use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) through a non-inventory linked location, please see below for further information on the next steps you should take for moving your export declarations to CDS.”
Source: BIFA
Food & Drink Export News
8. Sip Champagnes announces first US export deal
“Formed in 2021 by business partners, Daniel Blatchford (right) and Peter Crawford (left), Sip Champagnes sources and supplies, “small-batch, handcrafted Champagne straight to consumers and the hospitality trade”.
In less than three years, Sip Champagnes has established itself as a leading UK online Grower Champagne retailer. The company’s US expansion comes during a time of unprecedented growth for the sparkling category across the pond.
The US is now the top export market for Champagne. Sales soared by 19.4% to $998m in 2022, with American wine lovers developing a taste for quality cuvées, the retailer reports.”
Source: Harpers
9. Agri-food exporters urged to prepare for new UK import controls
“Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue has urged food business operators and agri-food exporters to engage with preparations for meeting new UK import control requirements.
The minister underlined the importance for all actors in Ireland-to-Britain agri-food supply chains of reactivating their preparations before the new requirements will apply from October 31, 2023.
The minister warned that, without intensive preparations, these changes could result in disruption of Irish agri-food exports and supply chains to Britain.”
Source: Agriland
UK Vehicle Export News
10. Got Brexit done? Now sort electric car ‘cliff-edge,’ UK and EU told
“Britain and the EU finally stopped beefing over Brexit — and electric carmakers want them to use the love-in to swerve an oncoming trade “cliff-edge.”
Fresh from resolving the post-Brexit deadlock over Northern Ireland trade rules, industry hopes have been raised that the two sides can start hammering out a plan to stop carmakers being clobbered by new tariffs at the start of 2024.
Four people familiar with conversations told POLITICO that Britain and the EU are now — tentatively — talking at an official level about the problem, which centers on so-called “rules of origin” requirements under the U.K.-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Carmakers say they need much more clarity on the help they can expect, and fast.”
Source: Politico
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