The Government has today launched a new online tool to assist British businesses who trade overseas.
The service will allow UK firms to report issues that are preventing them from trading around the world.
These barriers include unnecessary, legal, regulatory requirements such as labelling restrictions, licensing requirements or out-of-date regulations.
Firms will be able to raise these issues, at which point the Government’s trade experts will work with the relevant countries to resolve the problems.
When a request is submitted, it is then shared with the Department for International Trade’s (DIT) global team of trade experts, who will then assess the trade barrier and work with the respective Government to find a resolution.
Liz Truss, International Trade Secretary, said: “Opening up new markets for British businesses is a top priority and the Department for International Trade has 1,000 people located around the world to help create more opportunities than ever before.
“In the last 12 months, we’ve secured wins to sell beef to Japan, langoustines to China and pork to Taiwan – just to name a few.
“I urge businesses to make full use of our new market access tool, which will help us to rapidly identify and knock down unnecessary trade barriers.”
The Government recently announced resolutions to several trade barrier issues including restrictions on Vodka exports to Canada, the Mexican Government’s ban on British exports of food condiments and supplements containing beef and a ban on British beef and lamb exports to Japan.
The new online tool for businesses to report trade barriers can be accessed at great.gov.uk.