A Global Britain Our departure from the EU has given us an unprecedented opportunity to forge new alliances and strengthen our partnerships around the world. The interests of the British people now lie at the heart of everything we do around the world—from our trade policy to our sanctions policy.
● Agreed trade deals with 70 countries plus the EU . This includes landmark deals with close partners including Australia and Japan. We have also launched negotiations on a trade deal with India —a market of 1.4 billion people. These deals are tailor made to benefit British businesses and consumers —creating jobs and expanding choice.
● Became a dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The partnership, which is the first ASEAN has agreed in 25 years, will lead to closer cooperation between the UK and the region on a range of issues such as trade, investment, climate change, the environment, science, technology and education.
● Reaffirm our commitment to work together with the United States to realise our vision for a more peaceful and prosperous future. The new Atlantic Charter, building on the commitments and aspirations set out eighty years ago, affirms our ongoing commitment to sustaining our enduring values and defending them against new and old challenges.
● Retaken our seat at the World Trade Organization as an independent trading nation. The UK is using its regained independent seat to champion World Trade Organization reform and stabilise the Multilateral Trading System, to conclude future-leaning negotiations to secure commercial benefits and opportunities for British business and to modernise trade r ules in order to strengthen UK and global trade and support UK economic growth.
● Established an independent sanctions policy. Our new independent sanctions policy means we are more agile when deciding how and where to use sanctions, while continuing to coordinate with our international partners. The UK uses its sanctions regimes as part of an integrated approach to promote our values and interests and to combat state threats, terrorism, cyber-attacks and the use and proliferation of chemical weapons. We were the first European country to sanction the regime in Belarus and, overall, the UK imposed sanctions against 160 individuals and entities in its first full year running a fully independent UK sanctions policy. 18 The Benefits of Brexit: How the UK is taking advantage of leaving the EU
● Established a strategic partnership with Australia and the USA (AUKUS). This new partnership will protect our people, strengthen our alliances with like - minded allies, deepen our ties in the Indo -Pacific. Its first initiative is collaboration on future nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.
● Promoting our defence exports. Our UK Defence and Security Industrial Strategy sets the framework for a deeper, more sophisticated and strategic relationship with industry and promotes investment in the UK and defence exports. It includes a package of legislative reform, policy changes and internal transformation that will improve the speed and simplicity of procurement, provide more flexibility in how we procure and support capability and stimulate innovation and technology exploitation.
● Began accession negotiations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Accession could mean tariff -free trade for 99.9% of our exports, including cars and food and drink, while also creating new opportunities for modern industries like technology and services, ultimately supporting and creating high -value jobs across the UK. ● Launched trade deal negotiations with India. India is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing economies. We want t o slash existing barriers on UK exports to this growing market and a bold new deal would put UK businesses at the front of the queue to supply India’s growing middle class.
● Deployed the UK’s Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Queen Elizabeth to the Bay of Bengal. This was a powerful demonstration of the UK -India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, agreed in May 2021, and the UK's commitment to deepening its diplomatic, economic and security -based ties in the Indo-Pacific region.
● Agreed more ambitious provisions for digital trade. The UK is agreeing ground-breaking digital provisions in new trade deals, including in our trade deal with Japan and the Digital Economy Agreement we have agreed with Singapore . We are leading on tackling protectionism in online tr ade internationally, to the benefit of UK businesses and consumers. Advancing digital trade could also help to boost wages in the UK, with employees in the digital sector earning around 50% more than the UK average.
● Launched our ambitious Export Strategy to support British businesses exporting globally. Our 12-point Export Strategy, ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ provides businesses with the tools they need to become a nation of exporters and reap the benefits of our free trade deals. The ‘Race to £1 trillion’ worth of exports per year by the end of this decade means more jobs, more opportunities and higher wages, helping to level up the UK and build back better. The Benefits of Brexit: How the UK is taking advantage of leaving the EU 19
● Continuing UK Export Finance mission. UK Export Finance’s mission is to ensure no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance, while operating at no net cost to the taxpayer. In 2020–21 UK Export Finance provided £12.3 billion in support for UK exports, providing direct support to 549 businesses, in addition to thousands in their supply chains. SMEs made up 79% of the companies seeking UK Export Finance’s direct support for finance and insurance. In providing support to businesses, UK Export Finance has created or maintained around 107,000 UK jobs in 2020–2021.
● Defending UK economic interests. We created the Trade Remedies Authority to help defend UK economic interests by investigating complaints from UK industries about unfair trading practices and unforeseen surges in imports. It can recommend the imposition of new trade remedy measures, such as tariffs, to stop injury to UK producers harmed by the unfair trading practices.