BIS Call for Evidence for Trade White Paper

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December 2010

FDF has responded to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) call for evidence to inform the development of an ambitious and comprehensive trade and investment strategy for the UK which will set out how the UK can make the most of international opportunities to deliver long term growth and prosperity in the UK and around the world. This strategy will be set out in a White Paper early in 2011.

FDF has responded to the questions posed in the questionnaire, emphasising the need for Government departments to liaise more closely on proposals and actions that have external impacts and to address domestic factors preventing food and drink manufacturers from competing internationally. Maintaining a thriving and sustainable food system in the UK has to be an overarching Government priority in its own right – trade policy, foreign policy and trade promotion must therefore be driven in a way that contributes to this overarching priority.

The response also outlines FDF's global trade priorities, including support for further multilateral trade liberalisation under a successful WTO Doha Development Agenda (DDA) round, which would significantly improve the long term economic wellbeing of the economy as a whole. The DDA round has many challenges to overcome and the development of complementary free trade agreements (FTAs) is important to ensure the UK remains competitive against other competitors who are also negotiating with key trading partners.

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Last reviewed: 03 Jan 2012