International trade

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on international trade. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
03.02.2012UK Trade statistics
This note looks at UK trade and provides a summary of the key statistics behind the UK's Balance of Trade.
27.01.2012An economic introduction to China
This standard note provides an introduction to the Chinese economy (including trade with the UK) : statistics and key issues
19.01.2012UK/India trade statistics
This short note looks at UK/India trade statistics and was prepared for the Westminster Hall Private Members' Debate on UK-India trade on Wednesday 25 January 2012.
10.01.2012UK Arms Export Control Policy
This note provides an overview of the development of the UK's legal and regulatory framework for arms exports since 1997, including under the current Government. There was considerable controversy during 2011 in connection with UK arms exports to countries involved in the Arab Spring.
23.12.2011UK Overseas Trade (Current Account): Economic Indicators page
The overall monthly deficit on goods and services combined in November was �2.6bn, widening from �1.9bn in October.

Research Papers

DateDescription
12.03.2009Industry and Exports (Financial Support) Bill
This Bill would amend section 8(5) of the Industrial Development Act 1982 and section 1(1) of the Export and Investment Guarantees Act 1991. The Bill proposes to increase the total level of financial support to industry allowed under section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982. The Bill also proposes to widen support provided by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) to include exports that have already taken place.
02.05.2007An economic introduction to India
An economic introduction to India. House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/40.
19.06.2006A Political and Economic Introduction to China
A Political and Economic Introduction to China. House of Commons Library Research Paper 06/36
05.07.2001Export Control Bill (Bill 5 of 2001-02)
Export Control Bill (Bill 5 of 2001/02). House of Commons Library Research Paper 01/64.
15.12.1999Millennium trade talks and the battle in Seattle
Millennium trade talks and the battle in Seattle. House of Commons Library Research Paper 99/107.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
15.12.2011Government response to the ninth report from the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on UK-Brazil relations....
Government response. Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Foreign Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]
19.07.2011Trade and investment: China.
Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee report [Commons]
29.03.2011Re-launching the single market.
European Union Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
23.03.2010Exporting out of recession.
Government response. Business Innovation and Skills Select Committee report [Commons]
12.01.2010Exporting out of recession.
Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
25.01.2012EU - INDIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
That this House notes that the EU and India aim to conclude a free trade agreement at their summit in Delhi in February, but that numerous expert non-governmental organisations have ...
24.01.2012ILLEGALLY-SOURCED TIMBER AND THE PROPOSED JAPAN-EU FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
That this House notes that Japan is one of the world's largest importers of tropical timber and that in 2008 Chatham House estimated the value of illegally-sourced wood products imported ...
08.11.2011ETHICAL CONSUMER AND USE OF TAX HAVENS BY COMPANIES OPERATING PUBLIC SERVICES
That this House congratulatesEthical Consumer for its work exposing the poor ethical record of the companies being awarded contracts to run our public services; is deeply concerned ...
10.10.2011TAIWAN-EU ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT
That this House supports the signing of an Economic Co-operation Agreement between the EU and Taiwan; notes the rapprochement between the two governments across the Taiwan Strait, which ...
13.09.2011EXPORT AND TRADE CONFIDENCE
That this House recognises that export is key to sustainable economic recovery in the UK; welcomes the findings of the DHL/BCC Trade Confidence Index Q2 2011 showing that, whilst UK ...

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library