Department for Business and Trade written question – answered at on 4 February 2025.
Andrew Griffith
Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranian Convention on Rules of Origin.
Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We are always looking at ways to reduce barriers to trade – within our manifesto red lines – because we take a pragmatic view as to where the national interest lies. We are therefore open to looking at PEM if that reflects business and partner sentiment, but we do not currently have plans to join. Rules of origin is a complex area and there are many factors that influence how businesses experience using these rules, from the paperwork involved to the complexity of their own supply chains.
Yes2 people think so
No1 person thinks not
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