Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 4
4
We welcome the establishment of the Ministerial Forum for Trade in 2020 as a mechanism...
Conclusion
We welcome the establishment of the Ministerial Forum for Trade in 2020 as a mechanism for cooperation between UK Government and the devolved administrations. It is important that key Welsh interests are fully considered in trade talks. (Paragraph 24) Future trade relations with the EU
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
• On the 24 December the Prime Minister agreed a free trade agreement with the EU. The UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) honours the instruction of the British people—expressed in the 2016 referendum and the 2019 General Election—to take back control of our laws, borders, money, trade and fisheries. The Agreement ensures tariff free and quota free access to the EU market for Welsh businesses. • Since the TCA was signed, the Secretary of State for Wales has continued engagement with Welsh businesses to get feedback from them on their first hand experiences of the new trading arrangements with the EU. Furthermore, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster met Welsh business people on 4 February— as part of the Brexit Business Taskforce series of meetings—to identify challenges facing traders in Wales and find solutions to outstanding issues. • The Government believes the TCA is generally working well. The majority of Welsh firms are trading with the EU much as they have always done. There are however a number of teething problems in specific import/export sectors which the Government is committed to resolving, both by engaging with business to help familiarisation with the new trading arrangements and engaging with the EU to iron out difficulties in specific areas.