Scottish Government Debate: Supporting Scottish Exports in Response to Global Uncertainty

Kate Forbes S6M-18795 That the Parliament recognises that demand for Scottish exports is strong due to Scotland’s high-quality products and services, and its excellence in sectors such as food and drink, professional, scientific, and technical activities; notes that global trade challenges, including geopolitical uncertainty, Brexit, and trade tariffs, are having a detrimental impact on Scottish businesses; welcomes the Scottish Government’s Six Point Export Plan, which is supporting Scottish businesses to respond to these challenges; notes that the additional support being provided, builds on effective and continued delivery of A Trading Nation, the Scottish Government’s export growth strategy, as indicated through Scottish Enterprise’s highest ever level of forecast export sales in 2024-25; acknowledges that meaningful collaboration between partners to promote Scotland internationally, using the Scottish Government-led award-winning Brand Scotland collateral, will boost awareness of Scotland's strengths and increase opportunities for export growth, and calls on the UK Government to fully address the continuing impacts of Brexit on Scottish and UK trade by rejoining the European Union, and reverse its damaging decision to increase employers’ national insurance contributions, which is harming business confidence and Scotland’s economy. Further details available for S6M-18795 Murdo Fraser S6M-18795.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-18795 in the name of Kate Forbes (Supporting Scottish Exports in Response to Global Uncertainty), leave out from first “notes” to end and insert “recognises that Scottish exporters operate in a competitive global market and benefit from the UK’s ability to secure strategic trade deals and participate in global trading blocs, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership; recognises that agreements with India and the US mark a positive start in expanding opportunities for Scottish businesses in these important markets, alongside deals with partners such as Australia, Japan and Singapore; highlights that Scotland’s key sectors, including engineering, advanced manufacturing, food and drink, energy, chemical sciences, and financial services, thrive because of enterprise, innovation and private investment rather than government brand campaigns; welcomes the strength of Scotland’s defence sector in winning major export orders, exemplified by the £10 billion Type 26 frigate agreement with Norway for Scotland-manufactured warships that will sustain thousands of skilled jobs and growth across Scotland’s wider manufacturing base; rejects calls to rejoin the EU, which would risk regulatory uncertainty and distract from delivering meaningful support; regrets that the Scottish Government continues to use trade policy to promote constitutional division, rather than business confidence, and calls for both of Scotland’s governments to focus on cutting costs for employers, reducing unnecessary regulation, simplifying trade routes and working in genuine partnership with industry to grow Scotland’s exports and secure jobs.” Further details available for S6M-18795.3 Daniel Johnson (S6M-18795.1) As an amendment to motion S6M-18795 in the name of Kate Forbes (Supporting Scottish Exports in Response to Global Uncertainty), leave out from first "notes" to end and insert "welcomes UK Government action to strengthen international alliances and reduce trade barriers with economies around the world through diplomacy and the delivery of trade deals with India, the US and the EU; calls on the Scottish Government to stop contributing to instability for business through its repeated calls for an independence referendum, and believes that exporting to the rest of the UK, Scotland's biggest trading partner, is a key stepping stone for international exports, and that both should be imbedded in business support from day one." Further details available for S6M-18795.1