Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
10th Report – US Economic Prosperity Deal
Business and Trade Committee
HC 1306
Published 14 September 2025
Recommendations
17
Acknowledged
Work urgently with UK bioethanol industry to protect domestic production capacity and supply chains.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government continue to work urgently with the remaining UK bioethanol industry to co-design appropriate support measures. These should protect domestic production capacity and associated supply chains while medium-term supply side policies take effect. (Recommendation, Paragraph 99) …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that DBT officials are continuing to work closely with other government departments to monitor and assess risks across the supply chain, but it does not specifically commit to co-designing support measures with the bioethanol industry.
Department for Business and Trade
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18
Acknowledged
Drive further negotiations with US to de-risk tariffs and expand economic co-operation.
Recommendation
The Government must now drive forward further negotiations with the US to de-risk the threat of future tariffs, seek to match EU terms where those are preferential to those for the UK, lock in agreed tariff reductions and expanding co-operation. …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that UK-US discussions are continuing under the EPD General Terms, with a view to achieving a significantly preferential outcome and expanding the agreement, but it provides no specific commitments or timelines for de-risking tariffs or matching EU terms.
Department for Business and Trade
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26
Acknowledged
Balance digital trade and AI growth with strong protections for UK standards and industries.
Recommendation
Looking ahead, future commitments in the potential Economic Prosperity Deal must balance opportunities for growth in digital trade, AI, and services with strong protections for UK standards, tax sovereignty, and critical domestic industries. (Recommendation, Paragraph 141) 56
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Government Response Summary
The government highlights the economic potential of digital technologies and AI, referencing the Tech Prosperity Deal and its commitment to ambitious digital trade provisions, and states it will continue to safeguard its ability to regulate the digital economy, but doesn't specifically address the balance for all UK standards, tax sovereignty, and critical domestic industries across the full EPD.
Department for Business and Trade
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Conclusions (3)
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The United States is expanding the use of trade policy to advance its strategic and security objectives. It is therefore welcome that the United Kingdom has achieved the Economic Prosperity Deal representing a new phase of UK-US economic engagement. (Conclusion, Paragraph 26)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of the US relationship and confirms it is building on the Economic Prosperity Deal and Tech Prosperity Deal to foster a future-facing partnership with significant investment commitments and cooperation on economic security, supply chains, and critical minerals.
4
Conclusion
Acknowledged
We welcome the extension of the treaty parliamentary scrutiny period from 10 to 20 sitting days, as set out in the Trade Strategy. However, we regret that scrutiny of the GT-EPD are limited due to the trade-related provisions having been negotiated outside a formal treaty process, and that an economic …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's concerns by listing past statements to the House and committing to continue informing Parliament on EPD developments, with any final agreement subject to established scrutiny procedures.
16
Conclusion
Acknowledged
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 …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the concern by stating that DBT officials are continuing to monitor and assess risks across the supply chain in collaboration with other departments.