This week, I welcomed the government’s landmark deal with the EU in Parliament. The announcement follows similar deals with India and the US. I know that for some constituents, this news feels far away and unrelated to Crewe and Nantwich, but it is vital to fixing the cost-of-living crisis and securing lower prices in our shops.  

When I was elected to Parliament, I had many local business owners telling me that rising costs were a key barrier to growth. There are loads of factors that play into those increases – lack of a diverse energy supply, higher land prices and supply chain disruptions to name a few.  

These things don’t just affect businesses, it means people struggle to afford their weekly shop or keep on top of their bills. In the constituency, it means the high street falls behind, and communities suffer. 

We can’t solve all of those problems through trade agreements, but what we can do is give ourselves options. These new deals will help the UK to break down barriers and deliver lower prices to consumers, as well as access to larger markets for our businesses. 

These negotiations require strong leadership and sensible decision making. Under Labour, we’ve been able to sign these agreements without kowtowing to foreign governments. (Judging by Farage’s track record, he wouldn’t think twice about sacrificing the interests of the UK public if it made the President happy).  

To give you an idea of what these deals mean to Crewe and Nantwich, I’ve pulled out some of the key points firmed for each agreement below. It seems like good things do come in threes, but I know Labour won’t be stopping here – plans for an additional deal with the Gulf states are already in the pipeline. 

US Trade Deal

The US deal is expected to help grow on the existing £196 billion in annual exports from the UK, with the removal of beef, steel and aluminium trade barriers. In particular, the government has negotiated reduced reciprocal tariffs in beef without a weakening of food standards – meaning no hormone-treated beef will be creeping onto our shelves. 

Tariffs on car exports have also been reduced from 27.5% to 10%, which I know those employed at Bentley Motors will be glad to hear. Not only will this enable Bentley to continue selling its cars into US markets, but it also provides working people with greater job security.  

India Trade Deal

The new deal with India is particularly good for businesses involved in the export of whiskies and gin, cosmetics, medical devices, advanced machinery and lamb, locking in tariff reductions across 90% of UK exports. This will help SMEs who may have otherwise been unable to break into the Indian market to grow, thanks to improved customs processes and new digital systems.  

Sectors like sugar, milled rice, pork, chicken, and eggs are excluded from the UK’s tariff cuts. This approach ensures that the UK market remains protected from lower-priced imports in sensitive categories – sensible decision making in practice. 

The knock-on effect for consumers in Crewe and Nantwich will be cheaper prices from small businesses that are able to increase trade. We’ll also gain access to a greater variety of goods from India, like clothes and shoes, cars, food and jewellery. 

EU Trade Deal

This week’s deal with the EU will make it easier for businesses to export food and drink by reducing red tape at the border left over from the trainwreck also known as the Brexit negotiations. Again, driving down costs for small businesses looking to export their products abroad – and, in turn, the prices we see on shelves. 

In return for extending current fishing rules, the UK has secured a deal to reduce checks on food exports to the EU. Most routine border checks on animal and plant shipments to and from the EU will be dropped. The UK can sell raw burgers and sausages back into the EU for the first time since Brexit.  

 The agreement also includes the start of plans to boost energy security in the UK, through discussions on buying and selling directly into the EU’s shared electricity market. For people in Crewe and Nantwich, this means better access to a variety of energy sources, and in the end, lower bills. 

Read more on the 3 bilateral trade agreements here: 

UK Free Trade Agreement with India 

UK Free Trade Agreement with the EU 

UK Free Trade Agreement with the US