This month's updates from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)

► BCC Evidence on UK-EU Trade: William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, gave evidence to the House of Lords European Affairs Committee on UK-EU trade prospects, focusing on lowering SPS barriers. Watch the session.

► Trade and Public Policy (TaPP) Conference: William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, spoke on business priorities for the upcoming UK Trade Strategy during a panel at June’s TaPP Conference.

► Trade Strategy: The BCC secured multiple policy outcomes from the Trade Strategy launched by the Prime Minister at the BCC Global Annual Conference including on non-tariff barriers, export support, and our multilateral relationships.
 
Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP briefed Shevaun Haviland, BCC Director General, on the key outcomes in the Trade Strategy,and praised the quality of the BCC’s submissions and recommendations on shaping the Strategy. 

► UK-EU Trade: William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, participated in the meetings of the Joint UK-EU Domestic Advisory Groups and the Civil Society Forum tat the end of June raising with UK government and European Commission officials BCC priorities on trade in goods and services from the UK-EU summit and the forthcoming negotiations in the autumn. 

► UK Trade Strategy Engagement: William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, joined senior Department for Business and Trade officials, diplomats, and business leaders at Australia House to discuss the UK Trade Strategy. The BCC has published an online explainer outlining how the Strategy reflects 24 of the BCC’s 29 recommendations.

► US Tariff Reductions: Following the changes, US tariffs on UK civil aviation and automotive products have dropped to 0% and 10% respectively. The BCC engaged with the US Embassy and has updated their explainer with the latest details.

US tariffs on copper imports will be levied at 50% from 1st August. UK negotiators are hopeful the terms of the UK-US agreement can secure preferential treatment for UK exporters.

►UK Trade Stabilises After Tariff Hit:  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 impace of higher US tariffs began to subside." May was the first complete calendar trading month after all the US tariffs changes affecting the UK were put in place. It was also the month the Economic Prosperity Deal ‘heads of agreement’ was adopted by the UK and US.