10 UK Export News You Might’ve Missed – Week 9
(Export News from Expordite 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 9 of 2023 – February 27-March 5.
And the first update is from us! We recently published a guide to free trade agreements and how they can help UK exporters. You can check it out below.
Expordite Updates
“Free Trade Agreements, or FTAs, are contracts, or treaties between countries that reduce or remove international trade barriers, such as customs duties and tariffs.
That means that businesses in one country (e.g. UK) has an easier time breaking into a foreign market (e.g. Peru), if the UK has an FTA with Peru.
To give you some examples of possible benefits:
- The UK business wouldn’t need to pay high tariffs and thus be more competitive in the Peruvian market;
- It can enjoy IP protection in Peru, and
- It can even be a Peruvian government contractor.
Of course, not all FTAs are the same, and very few remove trade barriers entirely. However, the UK has several FTAs in place, from which the UK exporters can benefit.”
Source: Expordite Updates
General Export Updates
2. IOE&IT hosting free webinar on empowering women in trade for International Women’s Day this week
“To mark International Women’s Day on Wednesday this week (8 March), the Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) is running a free webinar about the support that is available to female traders.
Titled ‘Empowering women in international trade’, the webinar will also assess the role that governments, multilateral organisations like the WTO and associations including the IOE&IT have to play in fostering equality through trade.
Female IOE&IT members will share their experiences of working in international trade, including their challenges and inspirations.”
Source: IOE&IT
3. Windsor Framework: What does the new NI Protocol deal actually mean?
“The Prime Minister hailed the controversially named “Windsor Framework” as marking a “new chapter” on relations with Brussels that he hopes will restore powersharing in Stormont.
But what exactly does the new framework mean?
The Belfast Telegraph has broken down each main topic to explain what changes the Windsor Framework will make to the NI Protocol.”
Source: Belfast Telegraph
4. New Brexit trading rules could take more than two years to bed in fully
“The new Brexit trading arrangements in Rishi Sunak’s revised Northern Ireland protocol could take more than two years to be fully implemented, government sources have confirmed.
“The new Brexit trading arrangements in Rishi Sunak’s revised Northern Ireland protocol could take more than two years to be fully implemented, government sources have confirmed.
But with legislation required to bring the Windsor framework into force, the first of the new measures could take months to become operational.”
Source: The Guardian
5. What you need to know about international trade this month
“Top international trade stories: WTO says global trade grew more than expected despite the war in Ukraine; US-China trade reached a record high in 2022, but still lower than pre-trade war; UK government announces new post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland; Countries impose new sanctions on Russia.”
Source: World Economic Forum
Food & Drink Exports News
6. Salmon Scotland voices support for new UK-EU trade agreement for Northern Ireland
“Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said: “A thawing of the relationship between London and Brussels is welcome news for all exporters. Since Brexit, the export arrangements for our members have been challenging with extra red tape, delays at the Channel and continued labour shortages.
We have managed to get through that, but an improved relationship will hopefully lead to an easing of the tensions and generate further sustainable growth of Scotland’s most successful food sector.”
Source: The Fish Site
7. AHDB to fly the flag for red meat from the UK at Foodex
“Foodex returns on Tuesday, and the four-day event in Tokyo is expected to attract around 3,000 exhibitors and thousands of buyers from across Japan.
Joined by eight exporters, AHDB will showcase beef, lamb and pork from the UK, providing an opportunity to promote quality red meat from the UK to potential importers and increase shipments of red meat in the year ahead.
According to the latest data from HMRC, last year more than 5,000 tonnes of red meat was exported to Japan, with beef making up almost two-thirds of the total shipments.”
Source: AHDB
8. 2022 dairy trade review: exports up, with a slight fall in imports
“Dairy product trading volumes for the UK have overall risen from 2021 levels, however, this should be considered in the context of reduced volumes in the first quarter of 2021 with the EU exit coming into effect from January 2021. The EU remains an important market for dairy imports and exports, for countries such as Ireland, France, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Total export volume for 2022 was 1.2m tonnes, an increase of 28,300t (2%) from 2021. Whilst levels of EU exports increased by 45,000t, there was a fall in exports from non-EU destinations by 16,350t (-15%). This is especially noticeable for exports to China, which fell 7,800t compared to 2021.”
Source: AHDB
9. Growers welcome progress on restoration of seed potato exports
“More than 75 percent of Britain’s seed potato exports comes from Scotland, with the country exporting seed to 18 EU countries in 2020/21.
However, since January 2021, Scottish farmers have been unable to export seed potatoes to the bloc, including Northern Ireland, because of changes in trade regulations.
Mr Thomson, who is MP for Gordon, said the Windsor framework would help to restore Scottish feed potatoes to their “rightful export markets”.
Source: FarmingUK
Vehicle Export News
10. UK new car production remains stable but EV output grows
“In January 2023, the export market shrank by 1.5 percent compared with the same month last year, but exports still accounted for 82.2 percent of all the new cars produced in the UK.
That’s despite the cessation of exports to Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2021. That market alone accounted for 83.6 percent of the reduction in the number of cars built here for foreign customers. Now, more than half of all exported cars (56.6 percent) head for EU countries, while 9.3 percent are destined for the USA and 8.8 percent head to China.”
Source: Motor1
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