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<p>On 23-24 August 2018, my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for International
Trade visited Beijing for the 13<sup>th</sup> UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission
(JETCO), this was his 4<sup>th</sup> visit to China and he will visit again in November
for the China International Import Expo (CIIE). During the JETCO, he had discussions
with Co-Chair Commerce Minister Zhong Shan and Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua, China’s top
leader covering trade.</p><p> </p><p>On this visit, he met with ministerial level
contacts from China Atomic Energy Authority, the State Radio and Television Administration
and General Administration of Customs, securing market access for UK products using
dairy ingredients sourced from outside the UK, worth £240m over five years. Additionally,
he signed a protocol allowing the export of seed potatoes to China (the world’s largest
consumer of potatoes).</p><p> </p><p>Total trade in goods and services between the
UK and China was £65.1bn in year to end 2018 Q2, a 1.2% increase from year to end
2017 Q2.</p><p> </p><p>In year to end 2018 Q2, UK exports to China amounted to £21.7bn
(a 7.5% increase from year to end 2017 Q2) while UK imports from China were £43.4bn
(a 1.7% decrease from year to end 2017 Q2).This means the UK reported a trade deficit
with China of £21.7bn, compared to a trade deficit of £23.9bn in year to end 2017
Q2.</p>
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