UK trade secretary banks on digital deals to drive economic growth

International trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan has said the UK Government will look to strike digital trade deals as a means of opening up online opportunities for British businesses.

A report published by the Board of Trade highlighted how digital trade could have a big impact on driving economic growth, with the £200bn of digitally delivered services exported internationally in 2019 thought to have the potential to increase significantly.

Trevelyan noted that the UK signed a digital agreement with its fellow G7 countries - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US - last month and that recently negotiated Free Trade Agreements with Japan, Australia, and New Zealand include digital provisions. The aim is to expand on that.

“By addressing digital protectionism on the global stage and championing a free, open, and competitive digital economy, more UK companies will be able to export their innovative, high-quality services and goods globally,” Trevelyan said.

Scottish secretary Alister Jack said further deals would be “fantastic news” for Scotland’s digital sector.