Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Accepted
Publish a detailed CETA implementation plan, including business routes and resourcing commitments.
Recommendation
The Government should publish a detailed CETA implementation plan, no later than three months before entry into force, including routes for businesses to raise market access problems; points of contact in the UK and in India; sector-specific guidance (including for SMEs); and how the Joint Committee and sub-committee system, set out in the Agreement, will be used to resolve barriers. This implementation plan should include clear resourcing commitments and a plan for joint work with the nation’s chambers of commerce. The budget for this resourcing should be provided to this Committee. (Recommendation, Paragraph 111) Parliamentary scrutiny
Government Response Summary
The Government states that it is already committed to implementing CETA effectively and is ensuring that UK businesses are fully equipped to benefit from these opportunities. It refers to existing engagement with Chambers of Commerce, JETCO, working groups, and tools for businesses, but gives no specifics.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
HM Government is committed to implementing CETA effectively, ensuring that it provides the best possible opportunities for UK businesses and ensuring that UK businesses are fully equipped to benefit from these opportunities. Chambers of Commerce and other business multipliers will continue to be closely engaged and will be able to participate through JETCO and sectoral working groups, ensuring business voices shape our priorities and drive utilisation. Through JETCO, the FTA Trade Committee, subcommittees and working groups, we will identify priority issues with business, take them up with India, and track progress systematically. CETA contains a specific SME chapter, which aims to support SMEs by addressing the challenges and non-tariff barriers they face (e.g. access to information, Rules of Origin certification processes) by promoting information sharing to ensure that key trade information on the FTA is available and setting out cooperation commitments for the UK and India to promote and support SMEs - including exchanging best practice which makes it easier for SMEs to enter the market. Throughout the agreement there are numerous commitments designed to improve transparency, such as commitments in the procurement chapter for procuring entities to provide the reason for non-selection and the relative strengths of the successful tender upon request. Our approach also includes: • Targeted outreach to UK companies, including sector specific guidance and market-access support delivered through the DBT global network (as previously mentioned we have already engaged over 7,000 businesses and their representative bodies); • Dedicated tools, digital resources, and export support services that help businesses understand and utilise the provisions of CETA; • Close monitoring of uptake, utilisation rates, and early business feedback to assess how effectively UK firms are benefiting from the Agreement. Our implementation resourcing plans have been set out earlier in this response.