Pharmaceuticals Deal A Welcome Boost For UK

02nd December 2025

Reacting to news of a pharmaceuticals deal with the US, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “The original trade deal, agreed with the US in May, promised preferential outcomes on pharmaceuticals tariffs for the UK. We are pleased to see this has now been delivered,...

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Customs Reform Needed As Import Rules Change

24th November 2025

Responding to news of the Government’s plan to widen customs charges to low value goods entering the UK, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, said: “This has been on the cards for a while as the US has already made this change and the EU will do so at...

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Shifting World Order Makes Supply Chain Security ‘Critical’

24th November 2025

Responding to the launch of a Critical Minerals Strategy, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, said: “If the UK is to keep its place at the table of the world’s biggest and most developed economies then it must diversify and improve its supply chain security. “Advanced manufacturing needs guaranteed...

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Service Exports Climb But Goods Trade In Flux

17th October 2025

Commenting on the latest ONS trade data, BCC Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, said: “UK trade is heading along two distinct paths. There is a steady rise in services, which already account for more than half of UK exports, but trade in goods remains in flux. Manufacturers are...

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UK Trade Rebounds In July 

12th September 2025

Commenting on the latest ONS trade data, BCC Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, said:  “The first month of reduced automotive tariffs has had a positive effect on US exports alongside more certainty on the outlook for other manufactured goods sectors. “But far more work is needed on US...

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UK Exports To US Hit 3-Year Low

14th August 2025

UK Exports To US Hit 3-Year Low Commenting on the latest ONS trade data, BCC Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, said: “Tariff effects are clearly being felt by companies exporting to the US. Total goods exports across the Atlantic for Q2 2025 were 13.5% lower than a year...

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SME Exporters Hit By New US Customs Charges

31st July 2025

Responding to President Trump’s decision to charge import duties for low value goods entering the US, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, said: “This development has been coming for several months but is still a major blow to UK exporters to the US. Smaller firms and sole traders, who...

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Business Welcomes Movement On EU Reset Negotiations

17th July 2025

Responding to the release of the EU’s draft mandate for UK negotiations on removing checks on food and drink and eliminating carbon charges, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, said: “Firms have been patiently waiting for signs of progress on the EU reset and will be pleased to finally...

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UK Trade Stabilises After Tariff Hit

11th July 2025

Responding to the latest ONS data on trade, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said:       “UK trade showed signs of stabilising in May as the initial impact of higher US tariffs began to subside. “Services exports and imports showed steady month on month growth of 0.5%....

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Trade Strategy Must Support Smaller Exporters

10th July 2025

The Trade Confidence Outlook, conducted by the BCC’s award-winning Insights Unit, is a survey of just over 2,000 UK exporters.   The data was collected between 12 May and 9 June, after a narrow trade deal with the US was agreed but before any changes came into effect. The EU...

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