UK Small Businesses Call for Support to Benefit From New Trade Deals
The National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses (FSB), a United Kingdom-based lobbying group representing small firms and the self-employed, called for urgent aid for small exporters, in a Sept. 24 report, to help them benefit from the U.K.'s new free trade agreements. The Ready to Launch report urges the Department for International Trade to revise and replace the Tradeshow Access Programme, which the report notes was recently ended, with an initiative modeled on the Canadian CanExport program to provide funding for participation in more trade activities. The lobbying group also wants greater export support, including advice from the DIT network of international trade advisers, for the small exporter community, which it says is “left in the dark about the real benefits of” FTAs.
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“Small exporters have had a difficult time due to the [COVID-19] pandemic, ongoing supply chain issues, as well as adapting to the complications associated with the end of the transition period,” FSB National Chair Mike Cherry said. “This has left many facing rising costs, unsure of the future of their small firms and debating the best way to grow and nurture their businesses. Our report has highlighted some key areas which we hope DIT can act upon to positively help small firms who are either looking to begin their exporting journey, or to help current exporters to thrive.”