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Manufacturing Industries: Government Assistance

Asked by Cameron ThomasIndependentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 16 April 2026UIN 127000

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support British legacy industries through trade deals.

Answered by Chris Bryant

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are an important component of DBT’s approach to supporting businesses across the UK to grow and export, benefits include tariff reductions, simplification of customs procedures, and enhanced protections for investment. DBT’s support for business on FTAs is integrated into the existing export support offer accessed via business.gov.uk. This includes practical guides on the provisions of FTAs and a range of engagement. For example, recent events to promote the upcoming UK-India FTA focusing on sectors such as textiles and manufacturing. DBT also engages directly with businesses to gather feedback on how FTAs are working in practice.

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