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Sugar Beet: Import Duties

Asked by Nick TimothyConservativeDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 16 May 2025UIN 51527

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of increasing the Autonomous Tariff Quota on the domestic sugar beet industry.

Answered by Mr Douglas Alexander

The Government recognises the importance of the domestic sugar beet industry and is carefully considering the potential impacts of any changes to the Autonomous Tariff Quota (ATQ) on raw cane sugar following an engagement exercise which closed in March 2025.

We will aim to strike the right balance between supporting our domestic sugar beet and raw cane refining industries, alongside a range of other factors including the UK’s wider strategic trade objectives. The outcome of this review will be announced in due course.

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