Recommendation 17

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