FPB welcomes narrowing trade deficit, but calls for more support for exporters

Responding to today’s narrowing trade deficit data, the Forum of Private Business has renewed its call for the government to provide more focused support for small businesses with the potential to export for the first time, and for those that are already exporting but, with a bit of extra help, could do more.

Released by the Office for National Statistics, the new data shows that between the three months to November 2016 and the three months to November 2017 the UK’s trade deficit narrowed by £4.3bn.

Ian Cass, managing director of the forum, said: “We welcome today’s news of the narrowing trade deficit, but feel that the full potential of the nation’s small businesses is yet to be realised. This is reflected in the government’s one-size-fits-all approach to business, which does not take into account the very different needs of small firms that are seeking to achieve their true export potential.

“It’s still our view that the government does not truly understand the needs of the small and micro business community, and we call on the Secretary of State for Business, Greg Clark, and others to back our Get Britain Trading campaign.”