Progress with trade negotiations

Building on the vision set out in the 2021 Integrated Review, DIT’s Outcome Delivery Plan and the negotiations carried out to date, DIT should bring together its trade strategy in one place. This would help to: • clarify how the government’s international trade ambitions help it achieve domestic and wider policy objectives in areas including agriculture, the environment, international development and human rights; and • provide greater transparency to the public and stakeholders on what the government is aiming to achieve through trade agreements and clarify how DIT will use trade agreements alongside other mechanisms for promoting trade.

Ref Page 14, paragraph 25, point a

DIT should work with other departments, including Defra, FCDO and BEIS, to further embed across government the trade negotiating capacity and capability that it has built over the past few years. For example, to improve staff retention, DIT should continue to develop the trade profession, providing staff across government with clear direction on how they can develop careers in international trade, or considering secondments between departments to share expertise and build capability.

Ref Page 14, paragraph 25, point b · Implemented 06/2023

DIT should ensure it learns lessons from the progress it has made on multiple negotiations so far. It should ensure that feedback, learning and sector knowledge from across departments and devolved administrations is recorded and shared, and used to inform an improved approach in future negotiations.

Ref Page 14, paragraph 25, point c · Implemented 04/2022

DIT should improve the effectiveness of its engagement with businesses, consumers and the public. It should ensure that the mechanisms it has established for engaging with stakeholders are sufficiently inclusive in giving all parties opportunities to engage, access information and provide their views on an ongoing basis.

Ref Page 14, paragraph 25, point d · Implemented 12/2023

DIT should consider how it can support improvements in the robustness and effectiveness of Parliamentary scrutiny, informed by the recommendations and views of the International Agreements Committee and the International Trade Committee. It should also provide greater certainty about the arrangements for scrutiny of amendments to existing agreements.

Ref Page 14, paragraph 25, point e · Implemented 01/2023

DIT should work with other departments, including Defra, FCDO and BEIS, to develop a clear plan setting out how it will implement and promote each new FTA. Each plan should set out the roles played by each department, the resources required to meet the UK’s legal commitments and action to ensure that UK businesses and consumers can benefit from the agreements. DIT should also ensure a smooth handover between its negotiation and implementation teams.

Ref Page 15, paragraph 25, point f · Implemented Q2 2025-26

DIT should implement its plan for monitoring whether businesses are using the UK–Japan agreement. In doing so, it should consider whether it could include any further indicators, data sources or other improvements, and also use this to inform its approach to other agreements.

Ref Page 15, paragraph 25, point g · Implemented Q4 2025-26