The UK is a leading advocate for human rights, and we remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. We have a range of policy tools and levers available to hold to account those involved in serious human rights violations and abuses. In the UK-GCC FTA, provisions we are seeking include those that reaffirm core ILO labour protections, and further our efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment. We raise any concerns with the GCC through Ministerial and diplomatic channels. Our strong relationships with the Gulf do not stop us from speaking frankly about human rights or other issues.

Through the Industrial Strategy, we are prioritising growth-driving sectors, including clean energy industries and advanced manufacturing in Wales. This means supporting and building on Wales' globally competitive strengths in these industries, from green hydrogen at the Celtic Freeport to Airbus wing manufacturing in Broughton. Our Industrial Strategy Sector Plans set out our 10-year strategy for these sectors to increase business investment and productivity. This includes targeted support for investment and innovation in growth-driving sectors and clusters, including those in Wales.

The Trade Strategy sets out a range of cross-Government measures to minimise administrative burdens and frictions experienced by businesses trading internationally. We will remain focused on working across Government to implement the various measures outlined in the strategy that will help businesses across the country to export and import the goods and services that will support growth and jobs.

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity.

The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides information for UK operators. UK citizens and businesses should be aware of the potential reputational implications of involvement in economic and financial activities in settlements, as well as possible abuses of the rights of individuals that such activity may entail. Those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.

Since taking Office, the Government has welcomed announcements of around £100bn in investment into the UK. Investments announced at the International Investment Summit are detailed on the Gov.UK website titled ‘The UK IIS Summit secures £63bn’ and recent investments into the UK can be found online under ‘Revamped OfI’.

The UK continues to attract major investments across its priority sectors. Recent announcements listed on Gov.UK include Lendlease, DP World, Universal, OCBC, MBDA, Vishay, JLR and Rolls Royce.

These figures and examples are announcements and, in many cases, do not yet represent actual realised investment into the UK.

The Electronic Trade Documents Act’s Impact Assessment estimates that electronic trade documents (ETDs) could generate £1.1bn over a decade by reducing trade costs, accelerating transactions, and improving access to trade finance, particularly for SMEs.

To support ETD uptake, we have recently launched several initiatives in the Trade Strategy. This includes plans to establish Digital Trade Corridors with key European markets, setting up an SME Capability Programme to help smaller firms adopt digital trade tools, and launching an ETD Information Hub on Business.Gov.UK to support businesses transition. We are also promoting international legal reform on ETDs through bilateral and multilateral engagement.

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity.

The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides information for UK operators. UK citizens and businesses should be aware of the potential reputational implications of involvement in economic and financial activities in settlements, as well as possible abuses of the rights of individuals that such activity may entail. Those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.

On 8 May, we concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK - and the US has committed to further negotiations, including on the 10% tariffs.

We continue to support and engage UK businesses affected by tariffs. Businesses can access export support (via business.gov.uk) such as the Export Academy, International Markets Network, Growth Hubs and Help to Grow: Management scheme.

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity.

The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides further information for UK operators. UK citizens and businesses should be aware of the potential reputational implications of involvement in economic and financial activities in settlements, as well as possible abuses of the rights of individuals that such activity may entail. Those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.

The Government is committed to attracting highly skilled, talented individuals from abroad to live, work and contribute to the UK economy. Which is why we have launched the new Global Talent Taskforce. The Taskforce – working alongside the Global Entrepreneur Programme and our £54 million Global Talent Fund – will support the world’s best researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, top tier managerial and engineering talent and high-calibre creatives, to relocate to the UK. This builds on commitments in the recently published Industrial Strategy and Immigration White Paper to fast-track the relocation of the brightest minds into the UK to supercharge our growth-driving sectors.

The Government recognises that high energy costs impact factory activity and undermine investment in manufacturing. Therefore, we announced in the Industrial Strategy the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, to reduce industrial electricity prices by around 20-25% from 2027. This new scheme could benefit over 7,000 manufacturing businesses, including those in automotive and defence sectors. We will consult on precise eligibility shortly.

For existing Supercharger recipients, we will also increase Network Charging Compensation from 60% to 90%, saving eligible energy intensive industries a further £10 per megawatt-hour.

We are also continuing compensation of indirect carbon costs from electricity generation for eligible sectors.

The government remains relentlessly focused on making sure British businesses, including SMEs, can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.

On 16 June the US confirmed that certain UK aerospace products will no longer be subject to US tariffs. We have also secured agreement from the US that they will expedite the agreed quota for car exports to the US, reducing US tariffs from 27.5% to 10%. This will support businesses of all sizes in these sectors.

We are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains, including for SMEs.

The UK–India Free Trade Agreement is estimated to increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, boost UK GDP by £4.8 billion and raise wages by £2.2 billion annually in the long term.

Northern Ireland is expected to benefit from enhanced export opportunities, job creation, and reduced costs. Advanced manufacturing will benefit from eliminated tariffs on aerospace, medical technologies and electronics products. Irish whiskey will see tariffs fall from 150% to 40% over 10 years. Northern Ireland’s services and tech sectors will benefit from improved market access.

An Impact Assessment will be published at signature, which details the benefits to Northern Ireland.

This government will continue to speak up on human rights in China, including the repression of people in Xinjiang, and will continue to hold China to account. The new Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure the supply of critical minerals vital for the UK's economic growth and clean energy transition.

The strategy will promote responsible and transparent supply chains, including through greater adoption of responsible business practices to protect local communities and the environment. The strategy will set the long term ambition of securing supply of critical minerals and harnessing our competitive advantage in midstream and recycling. It will also set out how this will be achieved by optimising domestic production and by working collaboratively with international partners to achieve this. We will continue to assess and monitor the effectiveness of the UK's existing measures, alongside the impacts of new policy tools to tackle forced labour in supply chains and take action where appropriate.

This government will continue to speak up on human rights in China, including the repression of people in Xinjiang, and will continue to hold China to account. The new Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure the supply of critical minerals vital for the UK's economic growth and clean energy transition.

The strategy will promote responsible and transparent supply chains, including through greater adoption of responsible business practices to protect local communities and the environment. The strategy will set the long term ambition of securing supply of critical minerals and harnessing our competitive advantage in midstream and recycling. It will also set out how this will be achieved by optimising domestic production and by working collaboratively with international partners to achieve this. We will continue to assess and monitor the effectiveness of the UK's existing measures, alongside the impacts of new policy tools to tackle forced labour in supply chains and take action where appropriate.

This government will continue to speak up on human rights in China, including the repression of people in Xinjiang, and will continue to hold China to account. The new Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure the supply of critical minerals vital for the UK's economic growth and clean energy transition.

The strategy will promote responsible and transparent supply chains, including through greater adoption of responsible business practices to protect local communities and the environment. The strategy will set the long term ambition of securing supply of critical minerals and harnessing our competitive advantage in midstream and recycling. It will also set out how this will be achieved by optimising domestic production and by working collaboratively with international partners to achieve this. We will continue to assess and monitor the effectiveness of the UK's existing measures, alongside the impacts of new policy tools to tackle forced labour in supply chains and take action where appropriate.

This government will continue to speak up on human rights in China, including the repression of people in Xinjiang, and will continue to hold China to account. The new Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure the supply of critical minerals vital for the UK's economic growth and clean energy transition.

The strategy will promote responsible and transparent supply chains, including through greater adoption of responsible business practices to protect local communities and the environment. The strategy will set the long term ambition of securing supply of critical minerals and harnessing our competitive advantage in midstream and recycling. It will also set out how this will be achieved by optimising domestic production and by working collaboratively with international partners to achieve this. We will continue to assess and monitor the effectiveness of the UK's existing measures, alongside the impacts of new policy tools to tackle forced labour in supply chains and take action where appropriate.

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. Goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK's current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel.

The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides information for UK operators on how goods from Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories should be labelled.

The Industrial Strategy Advisory Council is supported by a team of DBT civil servants, housed in the existing DBT estate. The costs of its secretariat are expected to be comparable to the secretariats of similar advisory bodies. Precise budget estimates are subject to Spending Review and business planning processes.