17
The FSB informed us that the utilisation of Free Trade Agreements by smaller businesses is...
Conclusion
The FSB informed us that the utilisation of Free Trade Agreements by smaller businesses is disproportionately low when compared to larger firms. It has welcomed the inclusion of a small business chapter in the published objectives for each of the FTA 32 Q 70 33 C&AG’s Report, paras 12, 1.13. 34 Q 34; C&AG’s Report, para 2.20 35 Q 35 36 Federation of Small Businesses written evidence to the Public Accounts Committee inquiry into Government support for UK exporters, 11 September 2020, para 6; and Qs 35–39. 37 Pact written evidence to the Public Accounts Committee inquiry into Government support for UK exporters, September 2020, para 2.1. 38 Department for International Trade written evidence dated 25 September 2020 39 Q 18 14 Government support for UK exporters negotiations with the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, respectively.40 The Department confirmed that it aims to have a chapter that is supportive of small businesses in all trade agreements.41 Failure to meet customer targets
Government Response
Not Addressed
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4.1 The government agrees with this recommendation. Target implementation date: September 2021 4.2 The department will continue to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) export including through the recently launched £38 million Internationalisation Fund and through seeking to include SME chapters in all free trade agreements (FTAs). 4.3 With regard to the Committee’s points, subject to business planning, the department will: • explore the merits of accreditation as part of improvements to the International Trade Adviser service. DIT has recently launched a new small business Export Academy in the Northern Powerhouse, Midlands Engine and South West which will deliver a series of activities to build the exporting capabilities of smaller companies. • continue to build upon DIT’s digital offer for both businesses new to exporting and more experienced traders. The continued iteration of services will increase the quality of support the department provides at scale, providing relevant content, data, and digital services to users. The department has also released ‘Check how to export goods’ which provides UK goods exporters with product and country-specific information such as duties and customs procedures for most countries. • continue to promote the ‘report a trade barrier’ service amongst SMEs and wider industry so that businesses of all sizes are able to report barriers that are preventing them from trading. We intend to make information available shortly on gov.uk about existing and resolved barriers to trading and investing abroad. This will support UK businesses to check trade barriers which may affect them, and to see where barriers have been resolved to inform their understanding of new potential opportunities.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
Twenty-First Report - Government support for UK exporters
28 Oct 2020
HC 679
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
5.6 yrs
Report published
28 Oct 2020