Reacting to news of the plan, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, at the BCC, said:

“It was good to hear Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the new Secretary of State for International Trade, using her first speech this morning to outline her five-point plan to open up new and secure markets through a focus on digital and business trade flows.

“Business can benefit from greater UK Government support for cross-border data flows in the new free trade agreements being made with Australia, New Zealand and India, as well as other digital trade agreements, and further opportunities through the G7 and the World Trade Organisation.  

“We would urge the Secretary of State to take up the example of New Zealand on data, which has forged new data agreements with trading partners while retaining a data adequacy relationship with the EU. Unimpeded EU to UK data flows are key for UK businesses trading with the Rest of Europe and should not be affected in delivery of the five-point plan. 

“The BCC and Chambers Network play a key role in helping UK firms export across the world. We look forward to working with the Secretary of State on how this trade can be strengthened through the UK Government's forthcoming export strategy.”