Deepening the UK’s Trade Relationships
House of Commons · Written Statements · 14 Jul 2026 · 1 speech · Official Report
Trade remains central to this Government’s mission to drive sustainable economic growth and to ensure that UK firms can access the opportunities presented by a rapidly evolving global economy. This Government’s trade strategy places international partnerships at the heart of that ambition. We are focused on strengthening the UK’s position as a base for businesses to connect with global markets, while supporting high-value jobs, boosting investment and reinforcing our economic resilience. A key aspect of this pattern of international trading relationships is our membership of the comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-Pacific partnership. Today, I am announcing the launch of a public consultation to inform the next phase of the United Kingdom’s trade relationships with four global partners-Indonesia, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay-as we explore how the UK should respond to accession talks with certain CPTPP candidate countries. Parties to the CPTPP, including the UK, established an accession working group with Uruguay in 2025, and on 26 June 2026, CPTPP parties announced the start of preparatory discussions on accession with Indonesia, the Philippines and the UAE: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-06-29/hcws154 Uruguay’s accession working group is now well under way, with meetings scheduled The Government therefore want to hear views on the opportunities, priorities and considerations associated with...