Getting Britain ready to trade after Brexit
The Government is pushing ahead to make sure British business is ready to trade with the rest of the world after Brexit, the UK’s secretary of state for international trade pledged at the Chamber’s Global Trade Conference. Liz Truss (pictured) was responding to
questions from GBCC chief executive Paul Faulkner during the conference of nearly five- hours beamed digitally from Chamber House in Edgbaston. Pointing out that £8bn of US trade is from
the Midlands, she said: “We want to get rid of trade tariffs and open up new markets around the world. We are in talks with the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan plus the CPTPP.
‘We will create new opportunities and help business land support for exporting’
“We recognise that this is a difficult time for
business as we recover from Covid-19. That is why we are going to be more competitive and make sure we are bringing in business for the UK and the Midlands. “We will create new opportunities and help
business land support for exporting, especially new business in Asia and in food and drink. “To help with this we have 300 trade
advisers in UK, including the Midlands, so if you want to export you should talk to them for the basics.” In response to Mr Faulkner’s question about
the speed of free trade agreements, the minister said: “We will not compromise a good deal for Britain for the sake of speed. And we will fight very toughly for our interests.” Responding to the idea that some
companies feel the rest of the world does not want to trade with the UK, Ms Truss said: “We
are very trusted partners, standing for high quality and free trade. “The US has never agreed a trade deal with
a country as large as the UK. Korea is their biggest so far and if they can do a deal with Australia and New Zealand, so can we.” Ms Truss was one of three MPs to address
the conference – with Labour MP for Edgbaston Preet Gill and Conservative MP for Meriden, former Chamber president Saqib Bhatti, taking part in the final session. Ms Gill, Shadow Secretary for International
Development acknowledged the adversity businesses have faced due to Brexit and Covid- 19. She said: “Despite adversity in recent years, businesses in my constituency and the region over have proved their resilience and their sense of solidarity. Our success already has an impact across the globe. Exports have increased by 26 per cent over the last three years.” Mr Bhatti, a Parliamentary Private Secretary
to Liz Truss, said new markets overseas will be a “game changer” for businesses after the pandemic. He said: “Brand Britain is strong, people
want to do trade deals with us, people are talking to us and we have bucket loads of potential. “We’re starting to emerge from a public
health crisis and we are about to go into an ordeal with the economic aspects of Covid-19, and having the potential for new markets will be a real game changer for our businesses.”
Conference round up
In welcoming his global audience, Professor Julian Beer, president of the Greater Birmingham Transatlantic Chamber of Commerce and deputy vice-chancellor of Birmingham City University, said he hoped the conference would mark the start of a “new dialogue which balances economic, societal and environmental factors and not replicating the models of yesterday”.
Members of Gymshark’s international team discussed the fitness brand’s ‘local global strategy, which focuses cultural nuances, hiring the right people to operate in different markets and understanding behaviours in different regions. Jane Wilson said: “We must understand and
react to cultural trends at all times, whether it is a new social media platform, influencer or even a new payment method.”
Managing director Andy Dawson and his US counterpart in Florida, Dan Entwistle, of the change management experts Curium Solutions, told of their journey from “recession to recession” and the importance of resilience. On launching Curium US in 2016, when Britain
voted for Brexit and the US elected Donald Trump as president, Dan said: “We kept true to our core – people first, keep it simple; make it real; and bring value that creates long-term relationships.”
Live from Toronto, KC Goundiam, founder and chief executive of Red Dot Digital and B2BeeMatch, discussed the digital transformation businesses have faced over the past few months. She said: “Digital transformation enables
business to be guided by a broader strategy, especially in times of crisis like Covid-19. The crisis has showed businesses that they can work from home, revenue can increase and saving can be made.”
The 2022 Commonwealth Games will be key in aiding the West Midlands’ economic recovery from Covid-19, according to the boss of the organising committee. Ian Reid, chief executive of Birmingham 2022,
said: “We are fabulously placed to be a real aid to the region’s recovery as a huge project, as a huge amount of investment coming in and creating jobs, improving schools, improving trade and developing infrastructure.”
August/September 2020 CHAMBERLINK 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
