► Extension Of EPAs Into Services: The BCC has submitted evidence to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) on extending Economic Partnership Agreements to include services with African, Caribbean and Pacific partners, and upgrading services terms with Kenya.

► Nordic+ Embassy Engagement: William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, and Ben Martin, BCC Energy Policy Manager, presented the BCC’s latest positions on UK-EU trade and energy policy at the Nordic+ Embassies meeting hosted by the Danish Embassy.

► EU–UK Negotiations Roundtable (Edinburgh): William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, participated in a policy roundtable with senior Cabinet Office officials and Scotland’s External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson on progress and potential outcomes in the EU-UK negotiations.

► Meeting with James MacCleary MP: The BCC met Liberal Democrat Defence spokesperson James MacCleary MP to discuss UK-EU defence co-operation, procurement and supply chain opportunities, and regional growth linked to the Defence Industrial Strategy. The BCC also featured in the FT last week on UK-EU defence discussions.

► UK–US Trade Negotiations: William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, met the Department for Business and Trade's (DBT) US Trade team to discuss priorities including digital trade, semiconductor supply chains and further steel tariff issues.

► Services And Digital Trade Negotiations Forum: William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, took part in DBT’s quarterly forum with updates on negotiations with the Gulf Co-operation Council, Switzerland, Türkiye, and South Korea, and prospects for new digital trade agreements with Kenya, Brazil, Thailand and Indonesia.

► ICC Task Force On SMEs And WTO Priorities: William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, joined the ICC Task Force meeting to discuss global Chamber priorities ahead of next year’s WTO Ministerial Conference, including campaigns to maintain the moratorium on customs duties for digital transmissions and strengthening the rules-based trading system.

► CPTPP Refit Discussions: William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, participated in an FCDO roundtable on developing the CPTPP agreement, sharing BCC proposals for the refit agenda following a Ministerial meeting in Melbourne on Thursday 20 – Friday 21 November.