Select committee: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee
Conclusion 16
10th Report – US Economic Prosperity Deal
Published 14 Sep 2025
Addressed to Department for Business and Trade
Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee UK trade with the US, India and EU All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
We were disappointed to hear that the Government were unable to provide support to the bioethanol industry to prevent the closure of the Vivergo plant. This has already had a substantial impact on domestic production capacity of bioethanol, associated supply chains, and the UK’s ability to produce CO₂ and animal feed as by-products. The Committee will continue to monitor the impacts of the GT-EPD closely, including the impact on the agriculture and bioethanol industry. (Conclusion, Paragraph 98) 54
From: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee, 10th Report – US Economic Prosperity Deal (HC 1306), 14 September 2025
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 28 November 2025 (deadline 14 November 2025).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response sets out its work on the Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) and states that discussions with the US on the full scope of the deal are continuing, without stating that it accepts or rejects the Committee's recommendations as a whole.
- On parliamentary scrutiny and a Commons debate, the government states that it "will continue to keep the House fully informed" and that any final EPD agreement "will be scrutinised by Parliament in line with established procedures". It does not set out a timetable or commit to a debate.
- On steel and aluminium, it says the UK "will remain the only country in the world to benefit from a preferential 25% rate" and commits to publishing its steel strategy "by the end of this year".
- On the Trade Remedies Authority, the government is "seeking to introduce legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows", with further details "in due course".
- On forced labour, it says it is "actively examining" existing measures and "considering" approaches including mandatory due diligence and import controls, as part of a review of responsible business conduct.