Global Tech & Trade Policy Update
techUK Trade Policy Delegations in September
techUK is hosting several trade policy-focused delegations in September:
We’ll be hosting our cyber-focused Brussels delegation from 8 - 9 September where members will have the chance to discuss the new EU Technology Sovereignty Package with the Commission, MEPs and European companies. At the same time, we’ll be bringing members to the Cardiff for the US-UK SME Dialogue on 9 September to discuss how the UK and US can work together to ease SME trade, to build connections across the Atlantic between businesses, and to raise any concerns around barriers to trade for SMEs.
Finally, we’ll be in Geneva for the WTO Public Forum from the 14 - 17 September, including the World Tech and Trade Day on 14 September. We’ll be having meetings with WTO officials, the UK mission and other critical stakeholders throughout our time in Geneva to discuss the future of global digital trade.
You can register your company for one attendee for these delegations in the techUK website now, and hurry because places are limited. You can also find the rest of the delegations techUK is hosting on our website.
New EU Minister discusses deeper relationship with the EU
Hamish Falconer MP, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations, has given an interview in the Guardian talking about his ambitions for a deeper relationship with the EU, particularly on services.
Falconer has said services trade, including improving business mobility and mutual qualification recognition, is meant to be part of ‘…a deeper relationship, a more ambitious relationship with the EU.’
The report also suggests the next EU-UK Summit will take place in October. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this, particularly with the launch of our report ‘Towards a UK–EU Partnership for a New Age’ on 10 September in Brussels.
Scottish Government’s ‘Trade in Services Report’ aligns with techUK asks
The Scottish Government’s report on ‘Trade in Services’ was published on 5 August, and reflects much of techUK’s analysis of the state of digital services trade.
The report outlined that services trade is a huge part of the current trade balance for Scotland and that government needed to work on problem solving to ensure firms, particularly SMEs, could overcome barriers to exports that are preventing entry into markets abroad. This chimes well with the analysis in our ‘Spreading Wings’ report from earlier this year.
We will publish a full insight on the report soon but we hope the Scottish Government keep up momentum and develop internal trade expertise to help Scottish businesses export.
US states sue Administration over tariffs
25 US states have taken legal action against the Section 301 tariffs implemented by the US Administration, following the striking down of a series of tariffs by the Supreme Court in February.
The tariffs are directed at 60 US trading partners on the basis that these partners are not doing enough to combat forced labour in their supply chains. The states are suing the Administration on the basis that these are a replacement for the tariffs that were struck down.
Meanwhile, negotiations are continuing between the US and Canada on a tariff deal. These come ahead of the 19 August deadline set by the US Administration for a 50% levy on a large number of Canadian goods alongside existing tariffs.
China restrictions on due diligence organisations
China’s government has prohibited Chinese organisations and individuals from dealing with six US organisations, including due diligence organisations such as the Responsible Business Alliance, Altana and Verité. These are framed as a response to US measures against Chinese companies “under the pretext of so-called forced labour”.
The measures create a great deal of uncertainty on how Chinese companies will participate in foreign due-diligence reporting, potentially causing issues for companies in the EU, UK and US.
Members can get involved with techUK’s supply chain work through our Responsible Business Conduct Group.
