CBI responds to the government consultation on a New UK Global Tariff

Businesses want to support the government in making the best of this freedom and the CBI has consulted widely with members to form recommendations about how to do that.

The setting of tariffs has a strong link to the government’s wider agenda to promote greater regional equality by levelling up. If based on a clear strategy for the economy, established evidence and extensive stakeholder engagement, the UK Global Tariff will have an important part to play in delivering prosperity across industries and regions.

As an umbrella organisation representing a wide variety of sectors and industries, it is not the role of the CBI to take a view on specific tariff lines and many of our members will be submitting their own specific recommendations.

However, there are some clear principles that CBI members would like the government to consider in developing a new UK Global Tariff:

1. Introduce greater transparency to the government’s plans and priorities for the economy, and the links to a new tariff and trade policy
2. Take advantage of the opportunity to link tariffs with the UK’s wider levelling up agenda and other domestic priorities
3. Ensure that the publication of the UK Global Tariff supports ambitious agreements with third country negotiating partners
4. Prioritise select changes to those areas for which there is a clear and evidenced benefit
5. Continue to simplify customs administration as well as examining customs duties themselves
6. Ensure proper communication with business and the wider stakeholder community in delivering a new tariff schedule.

Take a look at the CBI’s response in full here, and for further information please get in touch with a member of the CBI’s International Trade Team.