17 Nov 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWith reference to the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet published on 31 October 2025, if he will specify the importing organisation and the goods involved in the import of £36 million worth of Russian planes in 2025.
ReplyThe Government’s sanctions regime has seen UK goods imports from Russia fall by 99.6% since the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Imports of Russian aircraft are banned. The Russian imports referenced in the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet are of aircraft parts, which are not sanctioned. The sanctions regime constrains Russian war revenues, whilst protecting critical supply chains and the stability of global markets. We are investigating manufacturers’ reliance on Russian aircraft parts.The Government does not speculate on future import controls as to do so could reduce their impact. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of these measures.HMG is prevented from disclosing information regarding importers under section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.Statistics notes and sources:Goods data covers 12 months to September 2025 compared with 2021 - HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics September 2025
17 Nov 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWith reference to the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet published on 31 October 2025, what plans his Department has to halt the further import of Russian planes to the UK.
ReplyThe Government’s sanctions regime has seen UK goods imports from Russia fall by 99.6% since the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Imports of Russian aircraft are banned. The Russian imports referenced in the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet are of aircraft parts, which are not sanctioned. The sanctions regime constrains Russian war revenues, whilst protecting critical supply chains and the stability of global markets. We are investigating manufacturers’ reliance on Russian aircraft parts.The Government does not speculate on future import controls as to do so could reduce their impact. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of these measures.HMG is prevented from disclosing information regarding importers under section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.Statistics notes and sources:Goods data covers 12 months to September 2025 compared with 2021 - HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics September 2025
17 Nov 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWith reference to the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet published on 31 October 2025, if his Department will seek legal advice on whether the import of £36 million worth of Russian planes in 2025 breaches the UK's sanctions regime.
ReplyThe Government’s sanctions regime has seen UK goods imports from Russia fall by 99.6% since the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Imports of Russian aircraft are banned. The Russian imports referenced in the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet are of aircraft parts, which are not sanctioned. The sanctions regime constrains Russian war revenues, whilst protecting critical supply chains and the stability of global markets. We are investigating manufacturers’ reliance on Russian aircraft parts.The Government does not speculate on future import controls as to do so could reduce their impact. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of these measures.HMG is prevented from disclosing information regarding importers under section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.Statistics notes and sources:Goods data covers 12 months to September 2025 compared with 2021 - HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics September 2025
20 Oct 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWhat assessment his Department has made of the potential impact on exporters of the United States' suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value goods.
ReplyThe department has conducted quantitative analysis and engaged directly with businesses across impacted sectors to understand the impact of the US removal of their De Minimis threshold. We have published information for UK businesses and remain in contact with our US counterparts to ensure their guidance to our exporters is as clear as possible. Royal Mail’s new service has allowed SMEs to continue trading with the US. The Secretary of State and departmental officials are in regular contact with US counterparts to discuss the impacts of tariffs on UK businesses and arrangements we can reach to alleviate them.
20 Oct 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWhat discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the potential impacts of the US requiring duties to be collected on all imports on UK businesses.
ReplyThe department has conducted quantitative analysis and engaged directly with businesses across impacted sectors to understand the impact of the US removal of their De Minimis threshold. We have published information for UK businesses and remain in contact with our US counterparts to ensure their guidance to our exporters is as clear as possible. Royal Mail’s new service has allowed SMEs to continue trading with the US. The Secretary of State and departmental officials are in regular contact with US counterparts to discuss the impacts of tariffs on UK businesses and arrangements we can reach to alleviate them.
23 Apr 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedIf his Department will publish the minutes from meetings between the Minister of Trade and the Chief of Defence Staff and their Chinese interlocutors on the week commencing 7 April 2025.
ReplyIn line with the practice of successive administrations, detailed minutes of ministerial meetings - even those that are declared publicly - are not normally disclosed.
23 Apr 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWith reference to his Department's press release entitled UK Government statement on denial of UK MP to enter Hong Kong, published on 14 April 2025, if his Department will publish the minutes from the meeting between the Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security and Hong Kong's Chief Secretary for Administration as they relate to the decision to deny Wera Hobhouse MP entry to Hong Kong.
ReplyIn line with the practice of successive administrations, detailed minutes of ministerial meetings - even those that are declared publicly - are not normally disclosed.
15 Jan 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWhat assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of US policies enacted between 20 January 2017 and 20 January 2021 on the Scotch whisky industry.
ReplyThe UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.
15 Jan 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWhat assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of US policies enacted between 20 January 2017 and 20 January 2021 on the UK aluminium industry.
ReplyThe UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.
15 Jan 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWhat assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of US policies enacted between 20 January 2017 and 20 January 2021 on the UK renewable energy industry.
ReplyThe UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.
15 Jan 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWhat assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of US policies enacted between 20 January 2017 – 20 January 2021 on UK small businesses.
ReplyThe UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.
15 Jan 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWhat assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of US policies enacted between 20 January 2017 and 20 January 2021 on the UK steel industry.
ReplyThe UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.
14 Jan 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWhether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of US policies made between 20 January 2017 and 20 January 2021 on UK exporters.
ReplyThe UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.
14 Jan 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWhat discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on international trade since 5 November 2024.
ReplySince the 5th of November the Secretary of State has held positive discussions with European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera (15 January) and the Spanish Minister for Economy, Trade and Business, Carlos Cuerpo (14 November) on shared trade interests. We look forward to continuing to build these relationships with the new Commissioners.