KAMPALA — Post-Brexit Britain taking a more ambitious, generous, and pro-growth approach to trading with developing nations
The proposed new UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme aims to grow trade with lower income nations, supporting jobs and growth across the globe
The UK Government is today 19th July launching a consultation on new trading rules that will help countries out of poverty – and help British businesses and consumers at the same time.
The UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) is a major opportunity to grow free and fair trade with developing nations. The proposed scheme would?apply to 70 qualifying countries?currently?and include improvements such as lower tariffs and simpler rules of origin requirements for countries exporting to the UK, allowing countries to diversify their exports and grow their economies.
The UK currently operates a similar scheme rolled over from the EU, but as an independent trading nation can now take a simpler, more generous, pro-growth approach to trading with developing countries.
The proposed new UK scheme will mean more opportunity and less bureaucracy for developing countries, for example by simplifying rules of origin requirements or reducing tariffs on imports. For instance, this could mean lowering tariffs on products including rice from Pakistan and trainers from Nigeria.
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said:
“Trade fundamentally empowers people and has done more than any single policy in history to lift millions of people around the world out of poverty.
“Now the UK is an independent trading nation we have a huge opportunity do things differently, taking a more liberal, pro-trade approach that leads to growth and opportunity.
“Countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam have proven it’s possible to trade your way to better living standards, and our new Developing Countries Trading Scheme will help others do the same.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “Cutting tariffs for poorer countries enables them to trade their way to genuine independence – and I’m proud we lead the world in offering that opportunity.”
Kate Airey, British High Commissioner to Uganda added:
“The proposed DCTS scheme signals the UK’s appetite to promote global free and fair trade, as well as demonstrating our commitment to Uganda, by enabling Ugandan businesses to access the UK market more easily. Bilateral trade between the UK and Uganda stands at £219 million and we are keen to play our part in growing this.?I encourage Ugandans to contribute to this important consultation, which is open to all”.
Bangladesh and Vietnam have demonstrated that increasing trade through schemes like the UK’s DCTS helped them grow their economy, improve living standards, and drive down poverty.
Vietnam’s exports to the UK more than tripled between 2009 and 2019. Over this period, the country achieved an average growth rate of more than 6%, while poverty rates plummeted from more than 20% in 2010 to an estimated 5.9% in 2020.
UK total imports from Bangladesh more than doubled between 2009 and 2019, during which time the country achieved an average growth rate of 6.6%. Extreme poverty rates more than halved from 1991 to 2016/17.
The UK Government intends its new scheme to be best in class, and has studied programs in Canada, the US, Japan and the EU, before constructing an approach that takes some of the strongest elements of each and builds on them.
The consultation on the UK’s new scheme runs for eight weeks and seeks the view of all sectors of society, including businesses, the public, civil society groups, consumers, associations, partner governments and any other interested stakeholders.
Views will also be sought from businesses and stakeholders with an interest across the globe.